Baseball Bat Beating Breaks Woman's Arm

Two victims of what police are calling an apparent road rage situation that involved baseball bats Thursday night have yet to cooperate with Hermosa Beach Police, leading them to believe there may be something more to the incident, Lt. Tom Thompson of the Hermosa Beach Police Department told Patch Friday.

People in the area of 21st St. and Hillcrest Ave. during the incident reported hearing what they thought were gun shots, however, the victims said guns were not seen or used. Thompson believes baseball bats hitting a vehicle probably made the sound.

The incident began around 8:11 p.m. near Gould Ave. and Valley Drive when one car pulled alongside another and words were exchanged.

The two victims, a male and female Hispanic, took off in their vehicle and were followed by the other vehicle, described as black, silver or red and looking like a Land Rover, he said.

The male victim who was driving stopped his vehicle near 21st St. and Hillcrest Ave., getting out to confront the individuals in the vehicle following his. Those four occupants, described as male Hispanics, emerged with baseball bats and started beating up the man, who was not badly injured.

His female companion, however, who tried to come to his aid to stop the altercation, was hit, suffering a fractured arm, said Thompson. The vehicle the victims were riding in was also pummeled with the bats, its windows broken.

Everyone involved except for the victims took off, he said.

The perpetrators are wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and police are asking for anyone with information or who witnessed any of the action to contact the detective bureau's Det. Sgt. Dorothy Scheid at (310) 318-0330 or Det. Mike Frilot at (310) 318-0332.

"Without further information, there's nothing we can do," said Thompson. "Usually, a victim in a case like this is willing to provide information."