2 Men Arrested After Carjacking Attempt

OXNARD — A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized after an attempted carjacking early Thursday, police said.

Two men were in custody after the 12:50 a.m. incident on Olds Road, police said. The unidentified boy apparently picked up two older men--one of whom he knew--on Pleasant Valley Road. Police said he drove them to the 4900 block of Olds Road, where they asked him to get out.

According to police, the men beat up the boy and took his watch, jewelry, money and Lotto ticket. The men planned to drive the boy to a remote location and leave him, but were arrested on Olds Road before getting away, police said.

The boy initially refused medical treatment, but was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center after passing blood, police said. He was later released.

The two men were in custody at Ventura County Jail. Steven Thompson 29, of Oxnard, was being held on suspicion of robbery and for not registering as a convicted sex offender. Kevin Byrd, 22, of Camarillo, was being held on suspicion of robbery and attempted carjacking. Bail for both men was set at $50,000. They are scheduled for arraignment June 1.