Man Arrested After PCH Standoff in Malibu

A section of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu was reopened Wednesday morning after a lengthy standoff involving a suspect who allegedly assaulted a deputy during a traffic stop. The incident began around 1 a.m. when deputies attempted to arrest a man with a no-bail warrant. The situation escalated when the suspect reportedly resisted arrest and assaulted an officer with a fire extinguisher. Law enforcement officials, including special tactical teams and crisis negotiators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, responded to the scene, which was marked by a white van parked on the roadside and surrounded by debris. The standoff lasted for several hours, with officers maintaining a perimeter around the suspect's vehicle. By approximately 8:30 a.m., the suspect was taken into custody, concluding the tense situation that had prompted the closure of both southbound and northbound lanes of the highway between Heathercliff Road and Busch Drive. The sheriff's department confirmed that the freeway was reopened shortly before 9:30 a.m., with no injuries reported among law enforcement or civilians. Despite the damaged appearance of the van and debris scattered around it, authorities clarified that there was no vehicle crash involved in the incident. Further details regarding the suspect and the circumstances surrounding the assault have yet to be disclosed by the sheriff's department.