In less than a week, Healdsburg Police Department reported two separate assaults involving weapons—a worrying trend for residents. The first incident occurred on March Ave. and Tulip Ct., where two males engaged in a physical confrontation, leading to injuries and subsequent arrests.

The responding officers found one individual bleeding from head wounds on Friday, June 14th. Through their investigation, they managed to track down and arrest 18-year-old Anthony LucasCruz from Healdsburg the next day. Alongside LucasCruz, Katie Beth, also 18, was arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact, according to the Healdsburg Police Department.

The charges against LucasCruz are serious, including mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon with potential for great bodily injury, and battery with serious bodily injury. Beth faces felony charges for her alleged role in aiding LucasCruz after the assault took place.

A mere four days later, on June 18th, officers had to respond to another altercation—this time involving a motorist and a motorcycle rider at the intersection of Matheson St and Greens Dr. What started as a verbal spat escalated when 74-year-old John Mingo from Cloverdale reportedly wielded a golf club against the motorcyclist. Mingo was arrested at the scene and is facing felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Healdsburg Police Department.

Both incidents reflect a concerning uptick in violence in the Healdsburg area, which has historically been known for its small-town charm and low crime rates. These violent assaults, occurring within days of each other, have punctured the sense of security among locals and raised questions about what might be causing this sudden surge in aggressive behavior.