Two arrested after homeless camp beating

Police say violence is increasing there

A fight that broke out in the homeless encampment behind the U.S. Highway 101 shopping center Thursday night resulted in a victim going to the hospital and two arrests.

A man reported he was beaten up by two other men at about 9:30 p.m., said Crescent City Police Chief Doug Plack on Friday.

“Assaults like this are occurring with more frequency back there, and alcohol certainly is a catalyst for that type of behavior,” the chief said.

A fight broke out between Jeremy Neil Smith, 29, and Kevin Daniel Mertens, 26 after a dispute involving a woman, Plack said.

As the fight ensued, Plack said a second man, Steve Robert Hudson, 50, stepped in and along with Mertens began striking Smith “about the face, neck and head area.”

Smith suffered a small cut on the top of his head and visible bruising and swelling to his face, Plack said.

He was taken to Sutter Coast Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Police arrived shortly after the call, and after a few interviews, Mertens and Hudson were located and detained.

Both men were then arrested on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury and taken to the Del Norte County Jail. Mertens is also suspected of public intoxication, authorities said.

Both men are currently held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Plack said his officers are not always able to perform daily patrols of the homeless encampment.

“It’s very frustrating that we have limited resources available to maintain a vigilant watch on that area,” he said.

Plack said officers get called out to the encampment and the shopping center at least once a week for calls about panhandling and other disturbances.

“The majority of people that call are tourists and concerned citizens,” he said.

The constant presence of transients in the area frustrates store owners as well, said Plack.

“They certainly are a detriment to the economy and the overall image of a tourist area,” he said.

The encampment is located on property owned by county, state and city, so it is difficult to go out and “move along” the campers, he said.

The encampment has been cleared out before, but only after arrangement were made with all three jurisdictions, he said.

A city ordinance states that camping is illegal within the city limits, but that applies only to the portion of the encampment on city property.

Plack suggested that citizens who want to help the transient population should donate to “the services that are available to them in the city.”

He cited Rural Human Services and the Community Assistance Network as examples.