Police arrested an 18-year-old on charges of battery and kidnapping on Sunday after he allegedly grabbed a younger teenager by the arm, attempting to pull him behind a building and punching him a number of times.

The victim of the battery, a 15-year-old boy from Mountain View, was approached by the 18-year-old and another 16-year-old at the corner of Escuela Avenue and Latham Street at about 9:20 p.m. on Nov. 18, according to Sgt. Sean Thompson, public information officer for the Mountain View Police Department.

The young man grabbed the victim by the arm, and allegedly asked, "Do you bang?" -- slang for "Are you involved in gangs?" according to Thompson. The 18-year-old guided the victim behind a church nearby, while the 16-year-old followed close behind.

The victim told his attacker "no," Thompson said. The 18-year-old reportedly punched the victim in the chest twice. The teen managed to escape his attacker's grasp; Both the 18-year-old and the 16-year old chased him, but they stopped when the victim arrived at a group of adults. The adults helped him call 911 and report the incident.

Police later arrested 18-year-old Jose Mora of Mountain View for kidnapping and battery outside of the 7-Eleven at the corner of Escuela Avenue and Latham Street. The 16-year-old, who was also at the 7-Eleven, was cited for conspiracy and released.

When asked whether police suspected this was some kind of gang initiation gone awry, Thompson said it could have been. "But it also just could be that none of them were in a gang -- just kids acting out."

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