Suspect Arrested After Early-Morning Stabbing at Santa Barbara Landing

An early-morning stabbing at Santa Barbara Landing sent one man to the hospital and led to an evening arrest at the harbor on Thursday, April 2.

Santa Barbara Police said officers responded around 5:30 a.m. to a report of an assault at the harbor, where they found an adult male suffering from multiple injuries. Officers, Santa Barbara City Fire personnel, and medics provided on-scene aid before transporting the victim to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He is listed in stable condition.

Investigators determined the victim had been involved in a verbal dispute with multiple individuals in the harbor area that escalated into a physical confrontation, culminating in the stabbing.

Around 6:00 p.m., officers returned to the harbor to continue the investigation and look for additional witnesses. During that time, they located a man matching a suspect description provided earlier and observed him disembarking from a local fishing boat.

The suspect, identified as Ivan Hernandez, 49, of Commerce, was detained and ultimately arrested. He was booked on charges related to assault with a deadly weapon.

Police said the incident appears to be isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public.