Juveniles sprayed with bear repellent in Atascadero assault incident
Police seize bear repellent in Atascadero child endangerment case
– An 18-year-old man was arrested Thursday after a juvenile was exposed to bear repellent spray at the intersection of West Mall and Lewis Avenue, according to the Atascadero Police Department.
Police responded at about 8:03 a.m. on Sept. 25 to a report of an assault. Initial reports stated a stabbing had occurred, but officers determined no stabbing took place. Instead, a 16-year-old boy was treated at the scene by Atascadero Fire Department personnel for exposure to a pepper spray-type substance.
While investigating, officers learned two 9-year-old students at a nearby school were also suffering from exposure. The two children were in close proximity to the incident but were unrelated. They were treated by school nursing staff. Police said the 16-year-old victim was not a student of the Atascadero Unified School District.
At about 1:25 p.m., police served a search warrant at a residence in the 7700 block of Navajoa Avenue. Paul Bicente Vasquez, 18, was arrested without incident. Police said further investigation determined the substance was bear repellent spray.
The motive of the assault remains under investigation. Vasquez was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on three counts of felony assault with a tear gas-type weapon and three counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. His bail was set at $20,000.
