Alleged gang members arrested after assault, car theft

Two reputed gang members were arrested Sunday on suspicion of assaulting a Glendale resident and later stealing his car, police said.

Hector Quintanilla, 19, of Fontana and Jesse Mendoza, 22, of Downey — who allegedly claim ties to a gang based in Burbank — were taken into custody just after 3 a.m. in connection with burglary, vehicle theft, vandalism and committing those crimes to benefit a street gang, according to Glendale police reports.

The victim identified Quintanilla as one of two men and a woman who beat him at 7:22 p.m. Saturday in front of Ace Liquor store on the 1700 block of Victory Boulevard, according to police reports. During the altercation, the victim lost the keys for his home and Mercedes-Benz, which was stolen the next morning.

“It’s not something anyone should expect to happen,” Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The victim was at the liquor store to buy milk for his daughters when he was approached by the group and allegedly asked “Where are you from?”

When he replied that he was from Birmingham, Ala., they started punching him and yelling “this is our hood,” according to the police report.

The Burbank gang claims a rivalry with a gang based along the Glendale and Los Angeles border.

The victim ran home and grabbed a broomstick, only to find that the group had followed him. They dispersed, but he couldn’t find his keys.

He called police the next morning after he allegedly saw two men driving away in his Mercedes.

Police arrested Quintanilla and Mendoza at Allen Avenue and Riverside Drive after they found the parked Mercedes-Benz, police said.

Gang insignias were also scratched on the car’s hood and trunk, police said.