Four people arrested after brawl on Santa Monica Pier

Several sellers armed themselves with umbrella poles, belts and at least one knife

Santa Monica police arrested four men after a brawl on the pier left one victim with a stab wound and another with a possible broken ankle.

The altercation began on June 29, when vendor Efigenio Tacuba allegedly approached a group of beachgoers and sexually assaulted several women. Members of the group confronted Tacuba, who then asked other vendors for help.

Several vendors armed themselves with umbrella poles, belts and at least one knife. Officers found one victim with a non-life-threatening stab wound and another with a possible broken ankle. Both were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

At 2:21 p.m., Santa Monica police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a fight between several men near Tower 14.

The report included information about a person being stabbed. SMPD’s drone was the first to arrive on the scene and confirmed an active struggle, according to SMPD. Additional officers arrived shortly after and responded.

Four people were taken into custody and charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney with aggravated assault and one of them with multiple counts of sexual assault.

Those arrested include Efigenio Tacuba, born January 1, 1994, who is accused of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault; Jorge Luis Cruz Murcia, born March 2, 1995, who is accused of two counts of aggravated assault; Samuel Manzanarez Hernandez, born July 19, 1984, who is accused of two counts of aggravated assault; and Oscar Samuel Hernandez, born July 2, 1977, who is accused of two counts of aggravated assault.

Additional arrests are likely. Anyone with information regarding this incident, especially cell phone video footage, is asked to contact Detective Holloway at [email protected] or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.