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.
