LOS ANGELES, CA – A Malibu man was arrested after allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road, forcing his way into a Palisades Fire evacuation zone, and running over a police officer’s foot, authorities said.
The incident occurred early Saturday morning, Jan. 13, at approximately 6:45 a.m., when 37-year-old Walter William Larkins was seen driving a green Toyota Highlander along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, heading toward Pacific Coast Highway, according to police.
Authorities said Larkins was observed trailing behind National Guard vehicles near an area restricted to emergency personnel due to the ongoing Palisades Fire. The zone was closed to public traffic to prioritize firefighting and rescue efforts.
As a Santa Monica police officer stationed at a checkpoint motioned for Larkins to stop, the driver allegedly ignored the command and continued into the restricted zone. While doing so, police say, Larkins ran over the officer’s foot before fleeing the scene.
The injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he was diagnosed with a “soft tissue injury,” officials said.
Authorities were able to track Larkins down using Santa Monica’s network of automated license plate readers, commonly referred to as flock cameras. Police located the suspect and his vehicle on the 2200 block of Pico Boulevard later that morning.
Larkins was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with felony hit-and-run as well as several traffic violations, Santa Monica police said.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward. Those with details can contact Investigator Evan Raleigh at [email protected] or call Santa Monica police’s non-emergency dispatch line at 310-458-8491.
The Palisades Fire, which has consumed thousands of acres and destroyed numerous homes, has left emergency personnel on high alert. Authorities have implemented strict access controls in evacuation zones to protect both first responders and affected residents, a policy police say Larkins violated during Saturday’s incident.
Public officials reiterated the importance of respecting road closures and checkpoints during emergencies. “These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of everyone, including first responders risking their lives to protect the community,” a Santa Monica police spokesperson said.
No additional injuries were reported, and Larkins remains in custody as officials assess the full scope of charges.
