Two men were arrested Thursday, Dec. 18 and charged with battery and assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking a 23-year-old Ceres man in front of Stop and Shop Beer and Wine at 1578 Whitmore Avenue.

A Ceres police detective was passing by the store at 3:50 p.m. when he saw the attack take place. He stopped and detained Jorge Rios, 23, of Ceres, and Jose Lopez, 31, of Modesto, after seeing them punch and kick the victim.

Patrol officers arrived and found out that the pair mistakenly identified the victim as a gang member as he wore a red shirt. Police said the victim was not part of a gang nor would an attack be warranted if he was a member.