Five arrested after beating at Montgomery High

Santa Rosa police arrested five Montgomery High students on Wednesday for an alleged gang-related beating inside a school bathroom.

A group of eight students confronted a 14-year-old boy who had joked that he was a member of a local street gang, police said. The eight students, who were actual members of the gang, took offense and pushed the youth into a bathroom.

There they harassed the boy, and a group of five surrounded him. One student punched the boy in the face, knocking him at least briefly unconscious, police said. When leaving, one of them threatened to assault the boy again if he called police.

Montgomery’s school resource officer identified the eight students. Five of the eight were arrested and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of felony battery with injury and actively participating in a gang.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the assault to call the Gang Crimes Team at 543-3670.