A man was arrested this week in connection with a fight involving a teenage boy in Valencia -– an altercation that was caught on cell phone video and posted online.
Regan Coultas, 46, of Palmdale, was booked on suspicion of felony child abuse, and he remained in custody Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Deputies were sent to the 24000 block of Copper Hill Drive about 3 p.m. Aug. 16 on a report that “a male adult, approximately 50 years old, engaged in a physical altercation with a male juvenile,” a sheriff’s department statement said.
“Deputies arrived on scene and conducted an investigation in which a report was taken,” the statement said.
Video of the fight was circulated on social media.
“With follow-up investigation, detectives were able to identify the male,” the sheriff’s statement said. “The male remained cooperative with detectives throughout the investigation.”
The teen who shot the cell phone video told Fox11 the confrontation began at a nearby convenience store that is frequented by Rio Norte Junior High School students. Video shows students entering the store while the man was trying to leave, leading to some verbal sparring that ultimately prompted the physical fight between the suspect and 13-year-old boy.
On the video, at least one person can be heard yelling, “You’re choking a kid” as the pair scuffle on the ground.
The investigation was continuing, and anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 260-4000. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS, or via the website www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
