Atwater man beaten with pipes after jail release

A man arrested over the weekend in Atwater after an alleged vehicle chase landed in the hospital a few hours after he was released from the Merced County Jail, authorities said.

Thunder S. Teixeira, 33, suffered major injuries, including a possible broken left arm and leg, when he was beaten by five to seven men with metal pipes, police Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Police believe the assailants, who were described as Latino males, may be gang members. No arrests have been made.

Teixeira was apparently trying tostop the suspected gang members from attacking another person, a man with his family, according to police.

The other man, whose identity was not available, was not injured.

The incident was reported around 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of Olive Avenue in Atwater.

Teixeira was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Teixeira had been released from jail six hours earlier, according to booking records.

Teixeira was arrested Friday, police said, after he allegedly led officers on a short vehicle chase. The pursuit ended when the driver surrendered in a parking lot on Peach Tree Court in Atwater, police said.

Police said there was no connection between Teixeira’s arrest and the assault.

Atwater police are asking for the public’s help in locating the suspects in the assault.

This story was originally published June 8, 2015 at 9:48 AM with the headline "Atwater man beaten with pipes after jail release."