Watsonville man arrested in connection with assault with metal knuckles

WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- A man was arrested Friday in Watsonville in connection with an assault with a deadly weapon during an altercation, according to police.

Enrique Avalos, 25, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, a gang enhancement and on outstanding arrest warrants, police said.

At 5:47 p.m., officers with the Watsonville Police Department responded to the 100 block of Pelican Drive on a report of a battery, according to police.

Once there, officers learned a verbal altercation between a victim and the suspect, later identified as Avalos, had taken place.

Afterward, Avalos left the area but returned a short time later with a second suspect in a vehicle, police said.

Avalos then allegedly assaulted the victim with metal knuckles while both suspects shouted gang slogans. The victim suffered several injuries to his head that could have been serious, according to police.

Officers later located Avalos and arrested him, before booking him into the Santa Cruz County jail, police said.