A wrong-way driver was arrested after he allegedly ran over a police officer’s foot with his car while forcing his way into a Palisades Fire evacuation area.

On Jan. 13, Walter William Larkins, 37, a Malibu resident, was reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road on Ocean Avenue heading toward Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica at around 6:45 a.m.

Larkins, who was driving a green Toyota Highlander, was reportedly seen following National Guard vehicles toward an area that was closed to traffic and open to emergency vehicles only, police said.

A Santa Monica officer motioned for Larkins to stop, but he ignored the request and continued driving through the checkpoint area, running over the officer’s foot as he fled, police said.

The officer was transported to the hospital with a “soft tissue injury,” officials said.

Other officers were alerted of the breach and the suspect was located through a network of flock cameras (license plate readers).

Police eventually spotted Larkins on the 2200 Block of Pico Boulevard and pulled him over. He was arrested for felony hit-and-run and several vehicle code violations. 

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Raleigh at Evan.Raleigh@santamonica.gov.

The public can also call Santa Monica police’s non-emergency dispatch line at 310-458- 8491 or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.