SPPD: Easter altercation leaves one man with severe head injury

April 27, 2011
Santa Paula Police Department

A Santa Paula man received a severe head injury Easter Sunday after a verbal dispute between neighbors turned violent.

 

According to Santa Paula Police Lt. Carlos Juarez, the incident occurred April 24 at approximately 6:55 p.m. when police were summoned to the 200 block of East Santa Paula Street because of a reported fight. Upon arrival, officers found Miguel Serratos, 28, of Santa Paula, sitting on a curb with blood on his face, while others were still involved in a fight.

Santa Paula Fire EMTs and AMR Ambulance paramedics responded to the scene, where they treated Serratos for a severe head injury received when he was kicked in the head. At one point Serratos stopped breathing, but paramedics were able to revive him before he was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center.

Juarez said SPPD investigators called to the scene learned “several people were at the residence” for a family gathering when a verbal altercation took place involving Serratos and his brother, 33-year-old Rigio Serratos of Port Hueneme, and several neighbors. The other people left the scene, said Juarez, “and when they came back is when the fight started.”

Arrested was Gilbert Cantero, 39 of Santa Paula, who was charged with suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, “his feet,” used to kick Serratos in the head and causing great bodily injury. Armando Orozco, 36, of Santa Paula, was arrested on suspicion of battery and fighting in public; Ruth Garcia, 56, also of Santa Paula, was cited and released on suspicion of a battery charge.

Juarez said none of the suspects appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Serratos is expected to recover from his head injury. The incident, Juarez added, is still being investigated.





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