Man bear-sprayed 2 kids and a teen in SLO County, police say. What happened?

A man allegedly attacked two children and a teenager with bear repellant spray in Atascadero on Thursday morning.

At about 8 a.m., 18-year-old Paul Bicente Vasquez allegedly sprayed a 16-year-old with bear spray at the intersection of West Mall and Lewis Avenue, the Atascadero Police Department said.

The Atascadero Fire Department treated the teenager’s injuries at the scene.

After investigating the incident, police learned that Vasquez may have also attacked two 9-year-olds with bear spray near their school on Thursday morning. The children were treated by school nurse staff, police said.

After identifying Vasquez as a suspect, police issued a search warrant at a home on Navajoa Avenue and arrested him.

“The motive of the assault is still being investigated,” the news release said.

Vasquez was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of three counts of alleged felony assault with a tear gas-type weapon and three counts of alleged misdemeanor child endangerment.

His bail was set at $20,000, police said.

This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM.