3 arrested, 1 suspect at large in Santa Cruz Boardwalk stabbing

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BCN) -- Three men were arrested on suspicion of stabbing two people near a popular Santa Cruz amusement park on Monday night and a fourth suspect remains at large, police said Tuesday.

Fernando Valencia, 21, and Pedro Espinoza, 27, both of San Jose and Miguel De La Rosa, 36, of Tracy, were arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide and participating in a criminal street gang, police said.

Around 8:30 p.m. Monday, officers responded to reports of a fight involving weapons in the 300 block of Beach Street, police said.

Arriving officers found a 27-year-old man and 19-year-old man from San Jose stabbed from a fight that started on a sidewalk just outside the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, according to police.

The 27-year-old victim suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a trauma center for treatment, police said.

The 19-year-old was taken to Dominican Hospital for moderate injuries and has been released, according to police.

Officers and security personnel from Seaside Company quickly arrested the three suspects as they were making their way to the beach, police said.

Officers recovered a knife and a billy club at the scene, according to police.

It appears the fight was an isolated event and is believed to have started from gang tensions, police said.

Espinoza was found to have violated state parole, according to police.

A fourth suspect who is at large is described as a Hispanic man between 20 and 30 years old who wore a white T-shirt and dark jeans, police said.