Published: October 04, 2008 03:01 pm      

Scrap leads to zap

Police Taser two following downtown altercation

San Marcos — A downtown fight early Friday led to the arrest of two men, both of whom were Tased by San Marcos Police.

SMPD Sergeant Dave Waugh said officers were dispatched to investigate a “large fight’ shortly past midnight Friday in the 100 block of East Hopkins Street.

Officers “arrived and found a large crowd in an alleyway next to Dillinger’s and two males fighting on the ground,” he said, adding that both the combatants were bloodied.

Waugh said one of the men, later identified as 24-year-old Jose Castillo, stayed on the ground when an officer ordered him to; but the second, identified as 26-year-old Jose Rivera Jr., started to leave.

“He began walking away, attempting to leave and was subsequently Tased and taken into custody,” Waugh said.

Rivera was charged with evading arrest, public intoxication and disorderly conduct/fighting.

After Rivera was in custody, Corporal Christopher Turread, also in the area, “encountered two males as they ran along the sidewalk,” Waugh said. Turread stopped them and then one of them, Castillo, shoved the officer, Waugh said, and tried to flee on foot.

“He continued to scuffle with the officer and was ultimately Tased and taken into custody.” Castillo is charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest and evading arrest.