Wild California Beach Brawl Erupts as Martial Artist Says Man Picked the Wrong Target [WATCH]

A routine dog walk at San Francisco’s Crissy Field turned into a physical confrontation Tuesday after two men became involved in a fight on the beach, according to KRON4 and the United States Park Police, as reported by The New York Post.

James Hidalgo, a martial arts instructor and former United States Marine, said he was walking his dog, Argis, when another man approached him and began speaking loudly.

The encounter eventually became physical, with witnesses calling 911 as the two men wrestled in the sand.

The incident happened Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Crissy Field on the northern shore of the San Francisco Peninsula.

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A KRON4 reporter was already at the beach working on another story when he heard yelling near the water and saw the confrontation unfold. Video captured the two men struggling and throwing punches in the sand.

Hidalgo said the encounter began when the unidentified man approached him while he was walking Argis.

“He said, ‘Are you calling me a dog?’ Because I had a dog, I guess,” Hidalgo told KRON4.

Hidalgo said he tried to defuse the situation and told the man he did not know what he was talking about. According to Hidalgo, that effort did not end the confrontation.

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“And then he came in, and he tried to punch me, so then I pinned him down to the ground until the cops got here,” Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo held the man in the sand for several minutes while witnesses contacted authorities.

United States Park Police officers eventually arrived and handcuffed both men while they investigated what had happened.

The park police confirmed to KRON4 that an assault occurred and said, according to witnesses, the unidentified man physically assaulted a stranger before being arrested.

Hidalgo said his background helped him understand why it was important to allow law enforcement to take control once officers arrived.

He said he had served in the Marine Corps and was familiar with following procedures during situations involving authorities.

The martial arts instructor told KRON4 he understands there are “protocols to all this, and you just have to let the professionals deal with what they do.”

Hidalgo was checked by paramedics and released. The other man remained handcuffed and was taken away by police, according to KRON4. The other man’s identity was not publicly identified in the reporting.

The confrontation occurred at Crissy Field, a popular San Francisco recreation area that includes beaches, walking areas and views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy describes the site as a place used by walkers, bicyclists and other visitors.

Hidalgo later said he was relieved that the confrontation involved someone with the training and experience to protect himself rather than someone who might have been less capable of responding.

“Imagine a nanny with her kid here. What is she going to do?” the martial artist said.

Hidalgo also described the other man as physically imposing and said he appeared confident that he could intimidate people.

“The guy, he was a built guy, and he knew that he could probably intimidate 90 percent of the people today. He just ran into the wrong person.”

The comment came after Hidalgo said he was simply trying to walk his dog when the encounter began.

The United States Park Police response ended the confrontation, with officers taking both men into custody temporarily while determining what had occurred.

According to KRON4, Hidalgo was released after being examined by paramedics, while the other man was taken away by police.

Hidalgo said he intends to press charges following the incident.

The confrontation was captured on video by the KRON4 crew, providing footage of the fight as it unfolded on the beach.

The incident remains under police investigation, and the circumstances described by Hidalgo represent his account of what led to the physical confrontation.

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