SALINAS, Calif. -- Todd William is one of the many business owners in Oldtown Salinas who deals with homeless people everyday. He said it's never to the point where violence is needed.
"Once they start crossing a particular line, let them know, ‘look, you might want to move along and generally they are pretty rational and they say okay," said Williams.
But police said brothers Robert and James DeLeon, owners of XL Grindhouse Restaurant used more than just words on one man. Last month a concerned citizen called police after he found a homeless man who he said just didn't seem right.
"The victim had sustained some serious injuries to his face and head," said Commander David Crabill, Salinas Police.
The injuries were so serious that the 55 year old man fell into a coma.
Police said their investigation revealed that the two owners became aggravated with the victim for hanging outside their restaurant, so the two brothers took matters into their own hands.
"At some point the two owners of the business had physically beaten the victim," said Crabill.
The victim, who goes by Ramon, is well known by many in Oldtown said Williams.
"We are all kind of flabbergasted. We are all blown away. He's always chipper, he was always in a good mood, always upbeat," said Williams.
Todd said with Chinatown just around the corner it's no surprise that homeless people go up and down Main Street, but he said with one simple call to police, any trouble quickly goes away.
"There's no need to take a baseball bat to somebody's head. That's not humane behavior," said Williams.
The victim is now out of a coma and recovering at a bay area hospital.
