Man Laid Unconscious for Hours After Beating in IB; Deputies Seek Public's Help

Originally published 10:29 a.m. June 20

Authorities have asked for the public's help to identify a group of young men who pummeled a teenager into unconsciousness in Imperial Beach.

The victim, 18, and two friends were drinking beer with some young men they had just met at the Imperial Beach Pier between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. May 27 when a fight broke out, according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers.

“Initially, the interaction was friendly but when the victim and his friends decided to go home, the group of men became hostile,” a Crime Stoppers bulletin said, noting the group yelled profanities and challenged the victim and his friends to a fight, then chased after them.

The group caught up with the victim while he was hiding in some bushes in the front yard of a home near Elder Avenue and Second Street. They punched and kicked him, then stole his cell phone and wallet, authorities said.

The victim was found unconscious six or seven hours later and taken to a local hospital, where he underwent at least one surgery, according to authorities. The aggressors were all in their early 20s, but specific descriptions are unavailable.

"The identity of the suspects is still unknown. They are described as a group of White, Hispanic and Asian males in their early 20s and are possibly involved in a graffiti tagging crew that goes by the monikers 'OBD' or 'OBDK,'" the bulletin said.

Anyone with more information about the crime is asked to call the Imperial Beach sheriff's station at (619) 498-2400 or Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

Information leading to an arrest could be worth up to $1,000.

– City News Service contributed to this report.