A driver was beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot in front of his pregnant wife and child after a game Sunday and four LA men were arrested in connection with the attack, police said Monday.
The driver, a 33-year-old man, whose birthday is Tuesday, was in stable condition with scrapes and cuts to his face, police said. His injuries are not life-threatening.
His name was not released.
“He had blood all over his face, cuts on his eye and a lot of contusions,” said LAPD spokesman Andy Smith. “So he had a pretty good beating.”
The man was involved in a fender bender with another motorist as they were leaving a game against the St. Louis Cardinals out of Gate C. Witnesses told police the drivers got out of their cars and a confrontation escalated into a fight.
Three male friends of one of the drivers got involved in the fight, police said.
The suspects were identified as Arthur Morales, 30, of Monrovia; Alan Trujillo, 29, of Los Angeles; Alejandro Briceno, 29, of Los Angeles; and Ulises Briceno 26, of La Crescenta. They were held on assault charges, police said.
"They basically held the victim down while the original suspect kicked and hit him about the head and face area while he was on the ground,'' LAPD Sgt. David Armas said.
The violence comes after Giants fan Brian Stow was severely injured in a beating during the 2011 opening game.
Stow was left brain damaged during a confrontation in the parking lot, and stadium officials had promised to increase security after the attack.
The LAPD had a visible presence at Sunday's game with officers in uniform walking the concourses. Police cruisers with lights flashing and motorcycle officers patrolled the parking lot.
Police and Dodger security officers broke up the fight and made arrests.
One of the assailants suffered bumps and scrapes to his face, "probably as a result of the victim defending himself," Armas said.
The victim's wife was not hurt but she was examined at a hospital as a precaution, he said. Armas said the suspects did not appear to have any street gang affiliations.
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"The quick security response prevented the confrontation from escalating further," said Dodger President Stan Kasten in a statement. "We have made it clear that we are fully committed to providing a safe, family-friendly environment for all of our fans, and the very quick and effective response by our personnel and the LAPD officers on the scene shows that they were properly deployed and fully engaged in this effort."
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