Police arrest suspect in assault

Deepa Bharath

Police officials on Monday arrested one of two men they say stabbed a

teenager several times on April 15.

Officers arrested Juan Gabriel-Campos, 20, of Costa Mesa, on

suspicion of assaulting a 15-year-old boy walking near 19th Street

and Wallace Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. April 15, Costa Mesa Lt. Dale

Birney said.

Police are still looking for the other man, he said.

Birney said the victim, who is not being identified because of his

age, was at first approached by one of the men who was on a bicycle.

“He assaulted the victim and was shortly joined by another

individual,” he said. As a physical fight ensued, the victim was

stabbed several times in the left arm and in the head, Birney said.

He said the two men fled and the victim was taken to Hoag Hospital

where his injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.

“We have charged [Campos] with attempted homicide because we

believe there was an intention to commit murder,” Birney said. “We’ll

forward the case to the district attorney and it is up to [that

office] to decide what to charge him with.”

Birney said both of the alleged attackers reportedly belong to a

Costa Mesa gang.

Costa Mesa Police had previously not released any information

relating to the April 15 attack.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.