Man beaten with a bat in Taylor

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) - A violent beating in Taylor leads police to a series of arrests and what investigators are saying could be a crime ring.

On Friday, a 19-year-old man was beaten with a baseball bat and robbed at the intersection of East 9th Street and Washburn. The victim said he was knocked unconscious during the attack and the suspects stole his vehicle.

Police were able to arrest the six individuals involved in the aggravated robbery but authorities believe the suspects are connected to other crimes around the city.

One of the supsects, Larry Thompson, 29, is significantly older than the other five suspects authorities arrested. Investigators believe Thompson may be leading the younger suspects into more criminal activity. 

"You get someone who is older and they think maybe they're wiser or they have some ideas about brainwashing," said Taylor Police Chief Dan Ramsey. "Some of the people involved actually followed it, he didn't act by himself."

Lisa Hord lives on East 9th Street and she heard the entire commotion early Friday morning.

"These people that are coming to town and stealing people's cars, beating them up -- they're lucky they're not on trial for murder, because they could've killed that poor guy," said Hord.

Investigators believe the suspects may have attacked other people in Taylor but those victims may be afraid to come forward because of the threat of retaliation.

The other individuals arrested and charged with aggravated robbery were:

• Paul Pachiano, 20
• Candice Diaz, 22
• Jordan Diaz, 19
• Estevan Cardiel, 17
• Miguel Munoz, 19