A 24-year-old dog trainer was assaulted at Balboa Park by two skateboarders last month, and now the San Diego police and San Diego County Crime Stoppers are seeking help from the public to locate the suspects. The trainer was working with a client and a friend near the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center on June 21 when over 100 skateboarders arrived at the park, as reported by NBC San Diego.
One of the skateboarders told the dog trainer and his friend to leave the park, claiming it was "Skate Day" and they had the right to be there. The two refused to leave, and several skateboarders began to intimidate them by skating close to them and the client's dog. When the dog trainer tried to escape the situation, multiple individuals followed him, and two of them used their skateboards to strike him on the head, causing him to lose consciousness per San Diego County Crime Stoppers.
The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of a head laceration according to NBC San Diego. The suspects fled before the police arrived at the scene. Crime Stoppers is now offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone with information that leads to an arrest as reported on their blog.
One of the suspected assailants is described as a white or Hispanic male, around 18 years old, with a medium build and curly blonde-brown hair. He was wearing a black and grey "Baja" hoodie, jeans shorts, had a silver nose ring, and a large black tattoo on his left hand. The other suspect is described as a white male, also about 18 years old, with a medium build and curly blonde hair. He was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, green and black camouflage cargo pants, a light-colored beanie, and black-and-white shoes according to Fox 5.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the identity or location of the suspected assailants to contact the San Diego Police Department's Central Division at 619-744-9528. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477 as per NBC San Diego. Tips can also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers' website.
