Ventura homeless man beaten by robbery suspect at encampment

VENTURA, Calif.

Officers responded to a call of an injured subject possibly from a robbery near the area of a growing homeless encampment along the railroad tracks adjacent to Harbor Boulevard and California Street Friday around 9:42 p.m.

When they arrived, officers found Jeffrey Frey suffering from serious wounds to his face.

Authorities said Frey and a friend were sleeping in the encampment when another homeless man approached their tent, started threatening to rob them and began hitting Frey in the face. The victim's unidentified friend jumped in and began fighting the suspect in Frey's defense before grabbing Frey, fleeing the encampment and calling 911.

Responding officers transported both Frey and the unidentified homeless suspect, who was located nearby in the encampment, to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Ventura Police Department at (805) 339-4343.

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