Attacker at Deaf Event Is Sought

Police say an arrest is imminent in the Friday night stabbing of a man at the Block of Orange during what has become a monthly informal gathering for deaf people from throughout Southern California.

The victim and suspect, both of whom are deaf, had been attending the gathering that draws crowds of as many as 600 deaf people to the mall.

The victim, whose arm required five stitches, and the 19-year-old suspect were gang members who knew each other from jail, Orange police said. Authorities declined to identify either man.

Police and mall officials have struggled in past months to keep the large crowds from blocking the center’s passageways. But Sgt. Dave Hill said the attack was uncharacteristic of the event.

The stabbing took place about 11 p.m. in a parking lot near Ron Jon Surf Shop, after the suspect pulled out a butcher knife with a 5-inch blade, police said.

One of three sign-language interpreters whom the shopping center hired Friday to help with crowd control translated for police at the scene.

“No matter what part of society you’re from, unfortunately you’re going to have some problems,” said Matthew Valbuena, an Orange resident who has attended most of the monthly Friday events this year. Though not hearing impaired, Valbuena said his parents are both deaf. “It’s not like the deaf society is perfect. But because we’re so small, something like this stands out as abnormal.”

At the deaf gathering last month, Valbuena said he was an interpreter for police during a late-night scuffle in the parking lot. No arrests were made.