Two people in hospital, five arrested during brawl on Santa Monica Pier

Two people were injured and five others were arrested in a brawl near the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday.

The incident was reported shortly after 2:20 p.m. when officers were dispatched after receiving reports of a fight between several people at Lifeguard Tower 14 north of the pier, according to a statement from Santa Monica police.

“It was reported that one of the people involved in the fight was stabbed,” police said.

An SMPD drone was the first unit to arrive on the scene and confirmed to ground officers that an active fight was underway in the area.

When officers arrived, they broke up the altercation and eventually found a man with a non-life-threatening stab wound, the SMPD statement said.

He was taken to a nearby hospital along with another victim who may have suffered a broken ankle, police said.

“Five people, all men, were arrested,” the statement said. Three were charged with assault with a deadly weapon, one with assault and another with sexual abuse.

Investigators found a small folding knife in the sand after searching the area with metal detectors. It has not yet been confirmed whether this is the weapon used in the stabbing.

This is just the latest violent incident within the city limits of Santa Monica since the start of the new year. Most recently earlier this week, when a Man tried to drown one woman and rape another before he was arrested.

At the beginning of June a bar owner died after a blow by a guest when he asked her to leave. In May, a man was arrested for Unprovoked stabbing that left two people hospitalized near the Third Street Promenade, and days before, a woman was jogging dragged towards the bathroom by a homeless man close to the beach.

“I’m in a crisis,” said Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock.

He says he has asked the city council to provide up to $3 million in emergency safety funding over the summer.

“The city council voted to investigate. Frankly, as a public official, I’m tired of constantly investigating,” Brock said. “I’ve seen it on my streets. Seeing what’s happening in my parks and on the sidewalks, that’s the investigation. Take action.”

He also noted that the stabbing on the beach was the second stabbing that day within the city limits, following an earlier incident in the park across from Santa Monica City Hall.

“This is not just a Santa Monica problem. This is a city of Los Angeles problem, and as I said, we are surrounded on three sides,” he said. “We need the governor, the legislature and the president to step in.”

While the investigation into the incident continues, police are asking anyone who witnessed the fight or the moments leading up to it to contact investigators at (310) 458-8491.