Two people were arrested following a violent bar fight that ended in a man being struck by a car in downtown Laguna Beach.

The suspects were identified as Itay Zaiger, 25, and Nicholas Tasooji, 39, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.

On Dec. 7, police responded to an altercation on the 200 block of Beach Street at around 2:19 a.m.

Arriving officers found two men at the scene who said they were intentionally struck by a driver following an altercation that began at a local bar on Forest Avenue.

Investigators learned two groups of men were arguing inside the bar earlier that night. The argument then escalated into “philosophical differences between the Israeli/Palestinian conflict,” police said.

The hostilities continued outside of the bar before the confrontation turned physical.

That’s when Zaiger reportedly chased a man in the opposing group and tackled him, police said. The man claimed Zaiger kicked him in the head several times after he was tackled to the ground, causing moderate head trauma.

Tasooji, a friend of the man who was tackled, then allegedly drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk and struck one of Zaiger’s friends, an unidentified 28-year-old man, police said. The impact caused significant injuries to his lower extremities. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Tasooji then drove away from the scene but was eventually found by police nearby.

Tasooji was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with further charges pending the ongoing investigation.

Zaiger was arrested for assault likely to cause great bodily injury. He was released on bond with a future date to appear in court.

The incident remains under investigation by Laguna Beach police’s Major Crimes Detail. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Flagstad at 949-715-0984.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the circumstances surrounding a deputy-involved shooting that occurred early Tuesday morning in East Los Angeles. 

Details remain scarce, but an LASD advisory indicates the shooting took place around 1:37 a.m. in the 6500 block of Olympic Boulevard. 

While responding, at least one deputy opened fire on the unidentified suspect for reasons currently not known. It is also unclear why deputies were dispatched to the location.

The suspect was struck and transported to a local hospital, LASD confirmed. Their condition was not disclosed. 

No further details were released. 

Anyone with information surrounding the shooting is asked to contact the LASD’s Homicide Bureau by calling 323-890-5500. 

To provide a tip anonymously, call Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477) or visit this link. 

Firefighters are battling a three-alarm brushfire, dubbed the Franklin Fire, in Malibu near Pepperdine University amid high-wind warnings, officials confirmed to KTLA.  

It’s unclear exactly how the fire started, but crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to reports of the blaze, located near Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary, at around 10:45 p.m.

Initial reports put the fire at 10 acres, though by 11:45 p.m., officials said the wildfire had grown to 100 acres, prompting mandatory evacuation orders east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, along with the Serra Retreat area, fire officials said in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

Those at Pepperdine University are being told to shelter in place, while officials with California Highway Patrol have closed portions of Pacific Coast Highway in the area so that evacuees have easy access to leave.

Sky5 is overhead.  

This developing story will be updated as additional details become available.