A Chico State student was severely beaten and robbed the night of April 15 on the bike path along the railroad tracks near West Eighth Avenue.
Police have not released the 28-year-old male's name to protect his identity.
"He was going home after a class, doing something that he's enjoying - innocently riding his bike home, and he (was) attacked," said Detective Jose Lara of the Chico Police Department.
While riding home, the student was approached by three to five young men who demanded money, police said.
The student surrendered his wallet before being beaten, Lt. John Carrillo said. After being knocked to the ground, he suffered several severe injuries to the head and body from being kicked and stomped on. He was found covered in blood.
"Numerous abrasions, bruises, significant, horrible facial injuries, injuries to his ears; he has shoe marks on his face, body and upper torso," Lara said. "I foresee a long-term recovery for this young man."
The student has since been released from Enloe Medical Center after being in critical but stable condition.
The student was unconscious for about an hour, Carrillo said. When he regained consciousness, he was able to get to a person who assisted him in calling police.
The student's bike and wallet were taken, police said. The contents of his wallet were later found scattered along the bike path with the money missing.
Robberies occurring on the bike path near West Sacramento Avenue and behind the campus have been an increasing trend, Carrillo said.
"This is the second bike path attack that we've had in the past couple of weeks," Carrillo said. "The last couple years, it seems like there has been an increase in street robberies on the bike path near the tracks."
To prevent this from happening in the future, the Chico Police will work closely with the University Police in patrolling the bike path area, Carrillo said.
Chico State students should be concerned for their safety, specifically on the bike path, Lara said.
"This is an extremely brutal crime," he said.
Police are also exploring the possibility that this crime was connected to the robbery of a taxi driver, which occurred later that same night.
Lara, who was assigned to the case with Detective Cesar Sandoval, has only been able to engage in minimal conversation with the student because of his injuries, Lara said.
"He appears to be, by all accounts, a very nice young man," Lara said. "It was an evil act. There's going to be some permanent scars on him both physically and mentally."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at
530-897-5820.
Mike North can be reached at mnorth@theorion.com
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