Malibu Man Arrested for Injuring Officer During Fire

Walter William Larkins, a 37-year-old Malibu resident, was arrested for allegedly injuring a Santa Monica police officer by driving over his foot while trying to access a restricted evacuation area due to the Palisades Fire. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. when Larkins, driving a green Toyota Highlander, followed National Guard vehicles on the wrong side of the road attempting to enter the area unauthorized. The officer, who suffered a soft tissue injury, was taken to the hospital. Larkins ignored the officer's signal to stop and continued through a barrier, leading to a felony hit-and-run charge and several vehicle code violations. He was later apprehended on Pico Boulevard using the department's network of Flock cameras. The investigation is ongoing, and the public is encouraged to provide additional information.