Man Hits Friend With Chair at Taco Bell, Leads Police to Drug and Firearms Bust

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The Livermore Police Department is investigating an assault with a deadly weapon that occurred inside the Taco Bell at 985 E. Stanley Boulevard on Sunday.

At around 1 p.m., LPD received a call reporting a fight inside the Taco Bell involving multiple males. The caller reported that one male was using a chair as a weapon. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the victim of the assault. Based on victim and witness statements, officers were able to identify the suspects as 21-year-old Denzel Green and 20-year-old Jose Serrano.

According to the victim and witnesses, Green and Serrano walked into Taco Bell and attacked the victim. During the attack, Green picked up a chair, lifted it above his head and struck the victim in the upper torso. As Green pulled the chair back above his head a second time to strike the victim, he accidentally struck his accomplice Serrano in the head, causing Serrano to fall to the ground and bleed heavily from his head. Serrano was able to regain his footing and fled Taco Bell with Green. Witnesses described Serrano as being disoriented, bleeding heavily from the head, and having difficulty walking as he fled the scene.

Officers were quickly able to develop information that Green and Serrano had fled to Michael and Andrew Barto’s apartment, located at 975 Murrieta Boulevard. Green and Serrano are friends with Michael and Andrew Barto. Officers responded to Michael and Andrew Barto’s apartment and located fresh blood outside of the apartment. Upon officers making contact at the apartment, Green attempted to flee out the back of the apartment. Officers then ordered all of the subjects out of the apartment. Officers then entered the apartment in an attempt to detain Green and locate the injured Serrano. 

While inside the residence, officers located evidence of marijuana cultivation and drug use in plain view. Officers located and detained Green and Serrano.  Serrano did have a large laceration to his head and the fire department and paramedics responded to provide medical care to Serrano, who was transported to ValleyCare Hospital. Green and Serrano were ultimately arrested on suspicions of assault with a deadly weapon and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Due to the evidence of the marijuana cultivation, officers with narcotics investigation experience arrived and took over the investigation. Andrew Barto and Michael Barto were both later arrested on suspicion of marijuana cultivation.

Evidence showed that Andrew and Michael Barto had converted three of the apartment bedrooms into marijuana cultivation rooms. The self-construction was deemed extremely unsafe and a danger to others in the apartment complex. Andrew and Michael Barto manipulated the electrical system within the apartment and was later deemed a fire hazard by city engineers. 

City officials and engineers also inspected the apartment. The apartment was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable. Evidence at the scene indicated that Andrew and Michael Barto were extracting hashish oil inside their apartment. This is the same dangerous procedure that led to the explosion and tragic death on .    

Additional evidence located at the scene included firearms, methamphetamine, and evidence of oxycodone and heroin Use. Evidence at the apartment and statements made by the suspects also suggest that Andrew and Michael Barto fraudulently obtained cannabis documents in an effort to hide the fact that they were growing marijuana for profit. LPD Officers will be seeking a complaint against Andrew and Michael Barto for the firearms violation as well as the additional drug violations.

The victim in this case suffered minor injuries from the attack and is cooperating with the investigation.

If anyone has information about this case, they are encouraged to call the Livermore Police Department at 925-371-4900. Those who wish to remain anonymous may do so.