A sibling argument turned serious when a 13-year-old Winton girl hit her 12-year-old brother hard enough to send him to the hospital.

At 3:45 p.m. on Monday Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Ralph Zyskowski was called to the 7000 block of Barbera Avenue in Winton on a report of assault. When he arrived he discovered that a 12-year-old boy had been flown by helicopter to a Modesto area hospital for head trauma he received during a fight.

According to the sheriff’s department, the boy was in his bedroom, which he shares with his 13-year-old sister when an argument broke out. The suspect said that the victim was “getting on her nerves” and told her mom she was going to beat him up. The 13-year-old told the sheriff’s department her mom said “go right ahead” and walked away.

Relatives came in and broke up the fight after the 13-year-old had punched, “slammed” and thrown the 12-year-old to the ground. The girl told sheriff’s deputies that her mother had given permission for her to hit her brother.   According to witnesses, they did not hear her mother give her permission. They stated that she just walked away when the suspect asked. The incident took place a couple hours before the sheriff’s office was called.

The 13-year-old was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for battery with serious injury. The 12-year-old has already been discharged from the hospital.