Stabbing Near Pier Called ‘Isolated’ : Violence: As Huntington Beach braces for Fourth of July holiday trouble, a man is wounded and four are arrested. Police say incident not gang-related.

Police officials said Monday that violence at the pier over the weekend in which a teen-ager was stabbed in the back was an “isolated incident” that they hope won’t be repeated as the city braces for the busy Fourth of July holiday.

Officers, out in force to deal with beach-going crowds Sunday, arrested four people from Los Angeles County and found the knife believed used in the assault atop the roof of a Main Street business, police said. The victim, a 19-year-old Garden Grove man, was treated at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police, who have taken extra measures to control violence this spring--including curfew sweeps in the downtown--called the incident unfortunate but isolated on a day marked by huge crowds drawn to the beach by picture-perfect weather and special events, including the start of a classic car race. The assault was not believed to be gang-related.

“It’s too bad you have these select few who cause trouble,” Huntington Beach Police Chief Ronald E. Lowenberg said. “It’s unfortunate you have these violent situations, but these violent situations--thank God--are still isolated.”

In anticipation of the busy spring and summer season, the Police Department added extra officers, some on foot and on bikes, and started strict enforcement of the city’s downtown curfew which prohibits minors from loitering in public places between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Lowenberg said crime had been declining downtown since redevelopment started about a decade ago, and appears to be declining even more with the curfew enforcement and other measures. Fear and anger about crime, especially involving the large crowds of young people attracted to the city, reached a peak in April when two young men were found shot to death a few blocks away from the pier.

The coming Fourth of July weekend is another concern.

Last Fourth of July weekend, police in riot gear arrested 40 men after breaking up an unruly roving party during which sofas, cardboard boxes and lawn furniture were burned in a huge bonfire. Officials had closed the 3 1/2 miles of city beach at dusk over the holiday weekend, which authorities said was effective in preventing further trouble.

Councilman Ralph Bauer said city officials and community groups are working together on an action plan to prevent problems this Fourth of July weekend.

The California Highway Patrol, for example, will handle traffic, freeing up more city police officers for patrols, Bauer said. On another front, residents and officials have identified potential party houses and trouble spots, he added.

“We’re sending the message to the outside world: ‘The thugs of the world, don’t come to Huntington Beach. We’re going to nail you,’ ” Bauer said. “This is our town. It is a nice, pleasant, comfortable place. It’s a family town.”

Bauer said he’s been satisfied by the cooperation among residents, business owners and police in dealing with crime problems and added he was pleased that police were able to make arrests in the latest violence.

The trouble Sunday started at about 6 p.m. on the stairs at the base of the Huntington Beach Pier when two groups--one from Los Angeles County, the other made up of local surfers--started arguing, police said.

During the argument, one man pulled a knife and stabbed Ingmar Northcott in the back, Lt. Clyde Stuart said.

The suspects fled in different directions as officers arrived. Police arrested the suspects on Main Street and in a beach parking lot off Pacific Coast Highway at 6th Street, Stuart said.

Rene Ozuna, 20, of Baldwin Park, and Danny Dominguez, 20, of Azusa, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Stuart said. Two 16-year-old males from the San Gabriel Valley were also being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall in connection with the assault.

About two hours later officers found a 6-inch fixed-blade knife, believed used in the stabbing, on the roof of a business on the 100 block of Main Street, near the arrest site, Stuart said.

Police said witnesses told them they saw one of the suspects throw the knife up on the roof.