Two transients were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly attacked an elderly couple in downtown Santa Barbara, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on the 700 block of State Street, according to Anthony Wagner, a police spokesman.

The couple, both in their early 70s and from Oxnard, were walking northbound on State Street with their 13-year-old grandson when they encountered a longtime local homeless man who was collecting cans from the trash receptacles, Wagner said.

Some sort of conflict occurred between the homeless man and the teen, Wagner said, and a shouting match then ensued between the man and the grandfather.

Moments later, as the couple and teen continued on their way, a 23-year-old woman who was not involved in the original dispute attacked the couple, Wagner said.

The woman — described by Wagner as an “urban traveler” who had arrived in town the previous day — punched the couple, who sustained minor injuries, although neither required hospital treatment.

Bystanders broke up the attack, and police officers arrived on scene in less than two minutes, Wagner said.

The woman, identified as Caitlin Rose Crenshaw, 23, was located by police a short time later at State and De la Guerra streets and taken into custody, Wagner said.

Also arrested was her companion, Cody Huynh, 23.

Both were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of assault, battery and elder abuse, Wagner said. They were released from custody on Thursday.

— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.