Hermosa’s busy Fourth of July was marred by DUI arrests and fights, including one in which a 19-year-old Torrance man allegedly broke a bottle and used it to stab four people. None of the injuries was life threatening. (Photo gallery 1) (Photo gallery 2)
Most of the long holiday weekend passed without major incident, but Monday’s Fourth was different.
“We had larger crowds on the beach than last year and many drank too much. We made several arrests for drunk in public and DUI throughout the day,” Hermosa Beach Police Chief Greg Savelli said.
“The primary calls on the Fourth were related to fights in the south end near Second Street, during the day, where 18-to-20-year-olds crowded the beach. Some fights broke out between rival schools, primarily in Torrance and Redondo Beach,” Savelli said.
Police arrested the young man suspected in the bottle-stabbing. One of the four victims was treated at a local hospital and released.
“Later in the evening the calls were mostly related to house parties with loud music and/or rowdy guests. Most disturbances we quelled by gaining compliance from the hosts. We did not have the usual crush at the end of the night for taxicabs, and upon closing time, most left town without incident,” Savelli said.
As in previous years, the city was patrolled by police and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, some on horseback.
The Fourth started off with walk street parties festooned in red, white and blue, and at least 450 people taking part in the very unofficial “Iron Man” contest, running on the beach, paddling in the ocean and returning to the sand to chug a six-pack of beer and throw it up in foaming gouts.
The overall winners, those with the fastest times who did not throw up their beer, were Chris Brown – who has won several times before – and Chris Smith, both finishing in 19 minutes.
Patrick Sweeney finished third, just one minute slower. Earlier in the day he had finished 13th in the Village Runner 4th of July 5K, in Redondo Beach, which he described as a warm-up for the Iron Man.
The fastest finishing Iron Woman was Andrea Bates with a time of 22.04. Annie Seawright, who had won the previous four years, came in second at 23 minutes.
Police employed their usual containment strategy, keeping an eye on the event as it ended at 30th Street near the waterline with puking, a mosh pit and a punk rock set by Special C.
“It never gets old,” boomed Iron Man icon Bob “Burgie” Benz, a former city councilman, who has worn competitor number 69 for years. His daughter Shelby kicked off the event by singing the National Anthem.
Costumed competitors included a young man with a bright blue wrestling mask, another with a camera affixed to the top of a motorcycle helmet, and a third in a hot dog costume that covered all but his legs. ER
