Gang-related fight leads to arrests

BY TARA BECKER SVN REPORTER tbecker@svnmail.com STERLING - A fight early Saturday that likely was gang-related left one man in the hospital and five men in jail. Anthoney L. Zeigler, 22, of Sterling; Arturo M. Mendoza, 31, of Rock Falls; Marc A. Medina Jr., 22, of Dixon; Michael G. McCoy, 35, of Sterling; and Robert M. Williams, 25, of Ashton, all are charged with one count of mob action, punishable by one to three years in prison; aggravated assault of a peace officer, punishable by three to seven years; obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer, each punishable by up to a year in jail. Police said they arrived at 601 Ave. E around 2:20 a.m., after getting a report that a man had been injured. They found him unconscious in the middle of the street; he had been hit in the head and face with fists, feet and a blunt object. He was taken to CGH Medical Center. According to officer Charles Bowman, he and officers Jacob Reul and Matthew Reglin responded, and while Bowman was trying to assist a man whose hand was injured in the fight, he and another man tried to leave. Bowman tried to stop them, and all five men, who were unarmed, rushed the officers, yelling out gang affiliations. They were arrested; two other men at the scene were sent home. The incident lasted about a minute and no one was injured, Bowman said. Reach Tara Becker at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 570.