Jun 28, 2008 6:13 pm US/Pacific
Malibu Beach Calm As Photogs, Surfers Commingle
MALIBU
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The surfers, like the one shown here, had a quiet day at Malibu beach Saturday, unlike last weekend when they got into a series of scuffles with surfers and residents. (File)
CBS
The combatants of Malibu beach -- namely the paparazzi and the surfers -- took to separate corners Saturday avoiding each other and the fisticuffs and shouting matches that highlighted the Internet last weekend.
In fact, officials reported that things were "very quiet."
That from Sgt. Michael White of the Malibu-Lost Hills Sheriff's station.
A larger police presence might be responsible. But for whatever reason calm was restored, the local police are happy. "We can only hope nothing will happen," White said at midday.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies were caught unprepared last Sunday, after Internet threats boiled over into a series of scuffles on the usually quiet, ritzy, celebrity-filled beachfront.
Investigation into the various scuffles is on-going.
One photographer, who was roughed up, reportedly filed assault charges last week. Some Malibu beachgoers have reportedly filed assault and battery claims of their own.
Sheriff's deputies are seeking raw videotape shot by independent paparazzi.
Some of the scuffles were shown on TMZ.com and x17.com.
The surfers and some Malibu residents allege the videos were heavily edited to make it look like they were soley responsible for the fights.
Los Angeles attorney Michael Schwimer, hired by one resident, told the
news media that the press outside Malibu were spoon-fed the paparazzi's view of the fights.
Malibu residents quoted in a local Malibu newspaper said the aggressive paparazzi found in Malibu, Beverly Hills and other celebrity-laden parts of Southern California have broken so many laws that a "push-back" was inevitable.
But the photo agencies and their freelancers say they have a right to perform constitutionally-protected activities on public property, and the sheriff and other officials have said Little Dume Beach is public land.
Malibu's mayor has asked Kenneth Star, Pepperdine University law professor and former Special Prosecutor in the Lewinsky mess, to fashion an ordinance to crack down on paparazzi while maintaining First Amendment press freedoms.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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