Brawl on Santa Cruz wharf escalates into violence – Santa Cruz Sentinel

SANTA CRUZ — Just over 24 hours after police began investigating last week's port shooting, two men were hospitalized following a violent altercation on the dock, police said, but no arrests were made.

Santa Cruz police officers were called to a fight in the parking lot near Cowell Beach at the foot of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf before 11 p.m. Friday.

After speaking with those involved, investigators believe a man living in his vehicle offered to smoke drugs with a woman passing by, according to Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Jon Bush. The woman was offended and allegedly left to tell her partner, who returned to the parking lot and argued with the man in the van, Bush said. The man in the van allegedly pulled out a tire iron and a member of the other group — two couples visiting from Hollister — allegedly pulled out a knife, he said.

“We're not sure who did what first, but the guy in the van was stabbed and one of the guys from Hollister was hit with the crowbar, which cut his arm a little bit.”

An injured person ran down the street, leaving police with a trail of blood and several crime scenes, Bush said.

Bush said officers received conflicting statements and the altercation was ultimately classified as a “mutual altercation,” which is why no arrests were made. He added that there were no independent witnesses to the altercation and no video footage, making it difficult to identify the original attacker.

Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment and a third person who suffered a minor cut was treated at the scene, Bush said.

Originally published: August 14, 2024 at 16:38