Homeless man dies from injuries after downtown Santa Rosa fight

The brutal attack occurred when two men, both homeless and downtown Santa Rosa regulars, crossed paths Saturday night at Rae Park off Sonoma Avenue.

An old disagreement over cigarettes or joints led to a one-sided fight that left one man bruised and bleeding, Santa Rosa police officials said.

The gravity of the injuries only became clear later that night at the hospital.

Joshua William Clark, 37, was up and talking when paramedics responded to the 9:23 p.m. 911 call reporting a fight near a path through the small grassy park, Sgt. Josh Ludtke said.

Clark walked to the stretcher, and the ambulance crew took him to Kaiser Medical Center in Santa Rosa.

But on Thursday, Clark died from his injuries and prosecutors added felony murder to the charges against 20-year-old Thomas Johnathon Borbeck, who was jailed the night of the attack on suspicion of assault causing great bodily injury.

Some witnesses told police Borbeck became angry after Clark refused to give him cigarettes. Others said it might have been over a debt owed for a marijuana joint, the sergeant said.

“There are a lot of different accounts as to why this happened and we’re not clear yet what the motive was,” Ludtke said.

“We do know there was some arguing that happened followed by a physical altercation. We believe both of them had been drinking.”

Several other homeless people at the park, including acquaintances of Clark, said the attack was one-sided and it appeared Clark lost consciousness at one point, Ludtke said.

“There’s an account that he may have tried to defend himself, but there’s nothing to indicate he landed any blows,” Ludtke said.

Saturday night at Kaiser, Clark began complaining of a headache and his condition worsened, Ludtke said.

He was transferred to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the regional trauma center, for more specialized care.

On Thursday, Clark’s family made the decision to take him off life support, Ludtke said. Clark’s body was able to go toward organ donation in a coordinated effort with the Sonoma County coroner pathologist, who will conduct an autopsy Tuesday.

Rae Park is a long grassy strip along the busy city street with a bridge over a water feature and two iconic “Stone Grandfathers” statues.

Near a nexus of paths in the parks eastern end, people gathered on blankets in the shade. Many said they knew both Clark and Borbeck, who goes by “TJ.”

Nathan Sickler-Evans, 20, said he was playing cards at a nearby picnic table Saturday when Borbeck complained to him that he was angry with Clark. Sickler-Evans said he didn’t know why and didn’t want to get involved. Then, Clark returned from buying beer at a nearby bodega and Borbeck attacked him, punching him even after Clark was on the ground, he said. Then Borbeck left.

Getting up from the ground, Clark wanted to get out of the area as well but Sickler-Evans said he and others convinced him to wait for the ambulance.

Sicker-Evans, who said he is homeless, described Clark as kind and generous.

He said he’s known Borbeck for about two years, “and I don’t think he meant it to go that far.

“It was a heat of the moment thing with Josh just passing by.”

Anyone with information about the case can call the violent crimes investigations team at 543-3590.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.