Confrontation Between Rival Gangs at Pier Results in Arrests of 4

Rival gang members clashed at the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, prompting four arrests by police.

Two police officers saw a group of youths arguing, then getting into a fistfight, at the Ocean Avenue entrance of the pier, said Santa Monica Police Sgt. Gary Gallinot. The officers called for backup and broke up the fracas shortly before noon.

Three Los Angeles youths were taken into custody on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. They are Avery Orlando Rodriguez, 19; William Armando Tot, 18, and a 16-year-old juvenile whose identity was not released because of his age.

The suspects, who were unarmed, allegedly punched and kicked a 13-year-old from Los Angeles, who suffered cuts and bruises on his face, arms and upper body, Gallinot said. The victim claimed to be a member of a Venice gang, police said.

A fourth suspect, a 13-year-old from Los Angeles who also claimed to be in the Venice gang, was arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace. He allegedly challenged the other suspects to fight by flashing gang signals, Gallinot said.