Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A 22-year-old Thousand Oaks resident was severely beaten Saturday evening during a gang assault that began at a gas station and ended with the victim being attacked near a busy intersection.

Juan Huertas had gone to the USA Gas Station on Janss Road, when at least seven young men attacked him.

The suspects punched, kicked and struck Huertas repeatedly with a metal pipe. Huertas tried to get away from the attackers, but they chased him and continued beating him while he was on the ground in one of the traffic lanes of Janss Road near the intersection of Moorpark Road. Huertas was literally beaten until he lost consciousness. He suffered a concussion, as well as numerous bruises and cuts. He was taken by ambulance to Los Robles Hospital for treatment.

An alert citizen followed the suspects as they left the area in a Chevrolet Suburban. The citizen contacted the Thousand Oaks Police Department and directed deputies to the vehicle, which deputies stopped in the area of Erbes Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The three adult suspects were booked at the East County Jail in Thousand Oaks, while all four juvenile suspects were booked at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard.

All seven suspects remain in custody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

Anyone who was in the area at the time and has information about this incident is asked to call Detective Jon Smith at (805)494-8216.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Location: USA Gas Station 1600 block of North Moorpark Road
Date & Time/ RB#: May 22, 2010 @ 8:15 p.m. / 10-12337
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Major Crimes Unit / Special Enforcement Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(V) Huertas, Juan Thousand Oaks 22
(S) Kolodziej, Edward Newbury Park 25
(S) Ruiz, Carlos Gonzalo Thousand Oaks 18
(S) Hernandez, David Simi Valley 18
(S) juvenile male Newbury Park 16
(S) juvenile male Simi Valley 17
(S) juvenile male Thousand Oaks 17
(S) juvenile male Thousand Oaks 15

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Eric Buschow

Follow-up Contact: Detective Eric Buschow (805)494-8226 / (805)947-8129

Date of Release: May 24, 2010

Approved By: Capt. Bruce Watlington