Surfers clash with McConaughey photographer

updated 8:53 p.m. ET June 22, 2008

MALIBU, Calif. - A paparazzo trying to photograph Matthew McConaughey at the beach told police he was attacked by a mob of surfers who threw his camera in the ocean.

The 29-year-old photojournalist told sheriff’s deputies that a large group of surfers near Paradise Cove in Malibu approached him and other paparazzi about 2 p.m. Saturday and demanded the group stop taking pictures and filming.

“There was apparently a fight, and the photographer gave a statement that he received injuries,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Sunday. Detectives are investigating, he said.

McConaughey was not involved in the attack, authorities said.

A call to McConaughey’s publicist was not immediately returned.

The celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted a video Sunday showing about a dozen young men in swimsuits approaching what appears to be a group of paparazzi and yelling and swearing at them.

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Blake Lively takes in the "Sherlock Holmes" premiere, Keira Knightley makes her stage debut, Snoop Dogg cooks up brownies with Martha Stewart and more. more photos

A scuffle breaks out after one of the photographers exchanges insults with the group and at first refuses their orders to leave.

“I’ll give you a thousand bucks if you leave right now,” one of the young men in swimsuits tells the photographers.

Another shoves a photographer filming the scene, and still another says, “We’ll draw a line in the beach, and we’ll fight for the beach. If you guys win, you can have the beach.”

When one member of the group shouts at a photographer, “Get a ... real job,” the photographer replies, “This is a real job. What do you do?”

The man replies: “I just drink beer and party.”

MORE FROM CELEBRITIES

Celebrities Section Front

LeAnn Rimes’ husband files for divorce ‘Alien,’ ‘Total Recall’ screenwriter dies at 63 Beyonce’s mom files for divorce after 29 years Man charged with stalking Jen Garner, family Newsweek: Entertainment predictions for 2010 Paparazzo on bike hits Anne Hathaway’s car Leelee Sobieski welcomes baby daughter Rep: Melanie Griffith had skin cancer surgery Officials pull reins on Guy Ritchie’s rowdy pub 10 moments from the decade in entertainment Celebrities Section Front   Add Celebrities headlines to your news reader: