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Gang Suspect Arrested in Snow School Beating, Napa Police Say

One suspect has been arrested and another remains unidentified following a brutal beating and robbery at Snow School last month that sent the victim to the hospital with facial fractures, according to Napa police.

A 19-year-old alleged Norteño gang member was arrested Wednesday at about 6:15 p.m. on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, conspiracy, a street gang enhancement and two Napa County warrants for providing false identification and possessing drug paraphernalia, Napa police said Thursday morning.

Golden Gate Circle resident Alberto Torres is believed to be one of two suspects who last month lured another young man into an ambush behind Snow Elementary School where they , according to a media release from the City of Napa Police Department:

On 10/20/2012, Torres and an unidentified co-conspirator lured the victim behind Snow School. The victim had made arrangements to meet a female named “Nikki” at this location.

When the victim arrived, Torres and the other suspect kicked and punched the victim in the face. Torres choked the victim, stole his wallet and cellular phone.

During the incident Torres told the victim they were nortenos. They left the victim on the ground. The victim sustained major injuries that included facial fractures and was admitted to the hospital.

The Special Enforcement Unit of the Napa Police Department conducted the follow-up on this investigation. Torres was identified as a suspect.

Torres was contacted on November 7, 2012 walking on Golden Gate Drive by SEU Investigators. He was identified and admitted to the incident at Snow School. Torres was arrested on the above listed charges and two outstanding Napa County Arrest Warrants.

Arrest information does not indicate a conviction. Click the "Keep me posted" button below for automatic notifications when we update this story.

For the latest reports on crime and arrests in the Napa Valley, please see our Police & Fire section, available from the News tab above and at napavalley.patch.com/police-fire.

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Unfiltered Steve Simoneau November 8, 2012 at 04:09 pm
Friend had a dog once that would attack and bite people for no understandable reason, even after they tried to train it. Wouldn't respond to training or punishment.
They took it to the pound and had it put to sleep.
Lorie November 8, 2012 at 04:19 pm
What color was the dog?
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau November 8, 2012 at 05:22 pm
Don't remember the color, but it did wear a red bandana and hid under the house when it saw the police.
Moss Adams November 8, 2012 at 06:38 pm
Perfect comment... Perfect!
Rachael Clark November 8, 2012 at 07:17 pm
Oh, but according to may officals we don't really have a GANG PROBLEM IN NAPA.. I call BS I am glad my friend's son is recovering. They almsot killed him. May that suspect rot in jail
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) November 8, 2012 at 07:24 pm
Which officials have said that, Rachael, and how many? I wish you'd back up this claim you keep making with at least one example, because I can't say I have ever heard anyone in authority say Napa does not have a gang problem. The community even has a special gang enforcement unit, a gang task force and a detailed report available.
Judy November 8, 2012 at 08:05 pm
My son recently said to me "mom, hurt people, hurt people" took me a minute with that thought, and as I am very close to the victim in this case and I have been waiting for this kind of news... I feel the pain for his family... May this kid find god in his life.. What these boys did to my friend is sickening and horrible, and they must pay for their actions..my heart hurts for the families... God bless you all
Rachael Clark November 9, 2012 at 07:51 am
The actual officers have said it Louisa. They have said "our gang problems have subsided" many members are locked up and things are pretty quite and manageable. Why do you think they didn't come out right away and say it was gang related? I have served many years on the Napa County Juvenile Justice Commission and attended many County task force meetings. More focus and funding is needed for this division.
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) November 9, 2012 at 10:23 am
Still looking for a citation on who said this, when, and in what public forum.
Jeffrey Wright November 9, 2012 at 02:02 pm
If you feel the need to be in a gang here in Napa you are either a punk or a coward.. My guess would be both .
Michael Quinn November 9, 2012 at 02:09 pm
Born and raised in Napa and have seen it only get worse over the years. Not the Napa I was proud to reside in.
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) November 9, 2012 at 03:00 pm
Speaking of cowards, I am exercising my right as moderator of this thread to screen out comments from people without names. Thanks for understanding.
chuck2251 November 9, 2012 at 06:55 pm
GANG PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN SWEPT UNDER THE TABLE..
JUST WALK AROUND TOWN AT NIGHT TO SEE 4 YOURSELF.. THE NAME NORTENOS IS NOT SOMEONE S IMAGINATION..
Rachael Clark November 9, 2012 at 07:35 pm
Louisa, I am not going to tell you who my contact because they did not do it in a "public forum". I have been of service to our juvenile community for many years and I was personally asked by Gary Liberstien today to joing the subcommittee again. The meeting is next wednesday at McPherson School at 6pm. If I am not working that night I will attend. I will be submitting an application on this county subcommittee. Plain and simple we have gang issues here and it's getting worse.
I just watched the film today called G-Dog That is a documentary about a jesuit priest who has dedicated 25 years of services called Homeboy Industries that has helped former gang members of LA and East LA I highly reccomend it. It is being featured in Calistoga at 5:30 pm tommorow at the ritz and Sunday at generations at 1:00pm
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) November 9, 2012 at 10:28 pm
So, not "many officials," but one unidentified officer speaking to you personally, is your basis for saying the city denies its gang problem. Got it.
jenna rowland November 10, 2012 at 02:34 am
Id like to say that this whole thing is crazy there is no evidence that alberto torres did this i only say this because he is my roomate and he is a generous person and if i actually thought he did this then i wouldnt allow him to stay with me and my family or be around my 2 1/2 year old daughter. i am sorry to the victim but alberto didnt do this.
Jeffrey Wright November 10, 2012 at 05:04 pm
If he is a member of a gang here in Napa I really don't care if he's guilty or not, all I care about is the fact that he won't be committing more crimes as long as he's locked up .... If he's not guilty of this crime then I hope the police find the one's responsible .. So he's not a gang member and he didn't have warrants ? Or are the police wrong about that also ?
jenna rowland November 10, 2012 at 07:18 pm
He is not a gang member far from it he did have warrants but that was it. he is a very generous person he is not gang oriented at all. he has witnesses who saw him that day this incident happend he was never over at snow school at the time it happend he was with friends that whole day.
Jeanette Nicholson-Rossi November 20, 2012 at 07:15 pm
If he didn't do it, then why did he confess to doing it? I know sometimes its hard to believe someone you know who seems kind and generous is capable of such a cruel act.. The fact is he and someone else did it.. I really don't care if it is gang related or not, he attacked an innocent man, my step-son
Sherry Moser November 22, 2012 at 04:08 pm
Today is Thanksgiving and I am grateful that I am able to sit next my son
around the dinner table instead of looking at him in a casket. I am grateful they were not successful in their mission to kill him... they came close. I am grateful to the angels who found him and the awesome staff at QVH ER, AMR, and Vacaville Kaiser. This has been a horrific ordeal for his family,friends and co-workers. This trauma will leave physical,emotional and psychological damage for the rest of his lifetime. To those who saw him after the beating and throughout his long hospital stay... Those visions are haunting/ disturbing. My friend and her girl's saw him right after the beating, wandering around and thought he was wearing a Halloween mask.. Bloody and covered in dirt. Until they got up close and realized it was a boy beaten beyond recognition. They have had a hard time since suffering from nightmares. Our family is strong and our belief and trust in God will get us through this. Thank You Napa Patch for covering this story.

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