Police to patrol parks

Laguna Beach police have started 24-hour patrols of Heisler Park and other beach areas after a knife fight among three apparently homeless men ended in a stabbing Tuesday night.

Two of the men allegedly involved in the fight were arrested on suspicion of stabbing the other man about 10:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of Heisler near the restrooms, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said. The wounds are not life-threatening.

On Wednesday morning, Laguna Beach Asst. City Manager John Pietig issued the following statement:

“The number of concerns and complaints regarding public safety and illegal behavior at Heisler Park, Main Beach Park and the adjacent beaches has been escalating. Examples of such concerns include the use of alcohol and narcotics, verbal and physical disturbances, and the destruction of public property. In fact, last night an altercation between three men in Heisler Park resulted in one of them receiving a six-inch slash wound, which was not believed to be life threatening.

“In order to address these issues, the police department has initiated a Community Oriented Policing effort that will include a 24-hour police presence in the proximity of Heisler Park, Main Beach Park and the adjacent beaches. This presence will commence immediately and will include at various times police officers on foot, bicycles and ATVs; plainclothes police officers specializing in narcotics and violence crimes; beach patrol officers; and civilian enforcement personnel. These personnel will also help enforce the ordinance prohibiting smoking in parks, which becomes effective as of Oct. 1, and the ordinance prohibiting alcohol consumption, which took effect on July 6, 2009.”

The incident Tuesday began when Laguna Beach police and fire personnel responded to a report of a 32-year-old man with a six-inch slash wound across his left shoulder, Kravetz said. The victim, who also sustained defensive injuries to his right hand, identified his attackers prior to being transported to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach.

The two suspects were detained at their campsite near Main Beach.

Brian Rooney, 24, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Anthony Martinez, 27, was arrested on suspicion of parole violation, destruction of evidence and being an accessory to a crime. Rooney was held on $25,000 bail, and Martinez was held without bail, according to police records.

Police determined that the three had been drinking alcohol before getting into a fight in Heisler Park, and that both Rooney and the victim were armed with knives. The victim was the only person to receive any physical injuries from the incident, Kravetz said.