Two Homeless Men Jailed After Beating Man Unconscious Downtown

Two homeless men are due in court today for allegedly beating a 21-year-old local man into unconsciousness on the downtown streets of Livermore over the weekend.

Mark Waller, 41, and Steven Ruth, 21, both listed as Livermore transients, are in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, after their arrests early Saturday morning on felony battery charges.

The victim was found on the ground unconscious at 2:20 a.m. when officers arrived at the brawl scene at South J and First streets, said Sgt. Brian Martinez of the Livermore Police Department.

The victim, a Livermore resident, was taken by ambulance to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, suffering injuries to his head, eye and ear, Martinez said.

Witnesses told police that Ruth and the victim were in a verbal spat, when Waller stepped in with a punch from behind.

"While arguing, Waller walked up behind the victim and ended up punching him in the side of the head," Martinez said.

After the victim fell to the ground, "both men physically continued to batter him until he was unconscious," he said.

The victim, later interviewed at the hospital by police, said he was unable to recall what happened, Martinez said.

Waller and Ruth fled the fight scene before officers arrived but were nabbed nearby within minutes by police.  

Martinez said he did not know the cause of the fight or whether the victim and suspects were acquainted.

The suspects' bail is $20,000 each, according to Alameda County Sheriff's Office records.

Both are scheduled to appear today at 2 p.m. in Dept. 701 at the Gale-Schenone Hall of Justice in Pleasanton.