NorCal Man Beaten Unconscious, Robbed of His 18-Pack of Beer; 2 Teens Arrested

YREKA, Calif. -- Two teens from Happy Camp have been arrested and lodged into Siskiyou County Juvenile Hall, charged with conspiracy and robbery after a Happy Camp man was beaten unconscious and robbed Friday night.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call 10:30 p.m. Friday and saw a large amount of blood but were unable to find the victim, who had regained consciousness and walked to his home nearby. The 43-year old man was treated at the scene for a large abrasion on his scalp.

The victim initially declined further medical treatment and refused to be transported to the hospital but early Saturday morning after growing more ill during the night, a friend took him to Fairchild Medical Center in Yreka. He was transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Redding and then to U.C. Davis Medical Center where he is being treated for severe swelling in his brain.

A 61-year-old Happy Camp man who was with the victim said he and the victim had purchased an 18-pack of beer at Double J Liquor in Happy Camp and were followed by a group of juveniles when they left. A short distance away, he said five male juveniles surrounded them and told the victim they would give him one chance to give them the beer. When the victim refused, one of them hit him in the head with something in his hand and the victim fell to the pavement. He said the juveniles then took the beer and fled; he said he went to a nearby home to call 9-1-1.

He said the victim lay unconscious for several minutes before he was able to help him back to his home.

Two 17-year-old males have been arrested and the case remains under investigation with further arrests pending.