Three people were injured within about two hours Friday night in three apparently unrelated assaults in Santa Maria, according to police.

Those injured were all taken to Marian Medical Center for treatment, with injuries ranging from a non-life-threatening laceration for one victim to stab wounds and blunt force trauma for a more seriously hurt victim.

A man was arrested in connection with one of the attacks as of Saturday afternoon.

Santa Maria Police Sgt. Marc Schneider said that the assaults do not seem to be connected.

“I know our gang unit is investigating,” he added.

The first incident, an onslaught with sticks, was reported around 8:20 p.m. at Benwiley Avenue and Raaberg Way, according to police.

The victim, a boy whose name was not released, left a residence in the area and was confronted by several males armed with sticks, police said. He was attacked and struck in the face, suffering a non-life threatening wound.

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Police searched the area, but could not find the culprits.

Around 10:20 p.m., a 17-year-old Santa Maria boy, whose name was not released, was attacked by several males in an alley in the 1000 block of North Broadway, and was stabbed and robbed of personal property, police said.

The victim suffered a stab wound that did not appear to be life-threatening, police said.

Fifteen minutes later, officers were sent to Marian Medical Center because of a stabbing victim in the emergency room.

The victim, Ricardo Moreno Jr., 20, of Santa Maria, was stabbed several times and suffered blunt force trauma as the result of an assault in the 200 block of West El Camino Street, according to police. Police suspect the incident is gang-related.

A Marian Medical Center nursing supervisor said Saturday afternoon that Moreno was no longer listed as a patient.

A man police identified as one of the primary suspects in the assault on Moreno, Santa Maria resident Daniel Ruvalcaba, 18, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

He remained in Santa Barbara County Jail Saturday with bail set at $500,000 on the attempted murder count and $1,500 on a small warrant, according to the jail.

December 14, 2008