Two Men Arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon After Downtown Fight

LAGUNA BEACH, CA – On December 7, 2024, two men were arrested for various charges stemming from an early morning fight in downtown Laguna Beach. The arrestees were from two opposing groups that were involved in an altercation outside of a bar on Forest Avenue.

Laguna Beach police officers were initially called to the 200 block of Beach Street around 2:19 a.m. regarding a driver who had hit a pedestrian with his vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located two men who had allegedly been intentionally hit by a driver with his vehicle following an altercation. One of the men had minor injuries, and the second had significant injuries to his lower extremities. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Officers located the suspected driver and the vehicle a short distance from the scene and detained two men.

Investigation revealed two separate groups of men were involved in a verbal altercation that evolved into philosophical differences between the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The philosophical differences were not the cause of the initial altercation, which originated inside a local establishment and then carried on outside into the street.

Following the verbal altercation, 25-year-old Itay Zaiger of Huntington Beach, chased one of the men and tackled him in the 200 block of Beach Street. 39-year-old Nicholas Tasooji, a companion of the man who was tackled, then drove his vehicle onto the east sidewalk of Beach Street and struck one of Zaiger’s companions (a 28-year-old man), causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his lower extremities. Tasooji then drove away but was located in the vicinity by responding Laguna Beach Police Department officers. Tasooji was arrested and later booked at Orange County Jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon with further charges pending the ongoing investigation.

Tasooji’s companion alleged that Zaiger kicked him in the head several times after he tackled him to the ground, causing moderate head trauma. He refused to be taken to a hospital.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, Zaiger was also arrested for Assault Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury. He was booked at the Laguna Beach City Jail and later posted bond. He was released with a date to appear in court.

The Laguna Beach Police Department Major Crimes Detail is investigating this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Flagstad (949) 715-0984.