O.C. firefighter among those arrested in Huntington Beach rioting

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A rioter smashes a stop sign through the windows of a bike shop at Main and Orange Streets in downtown Huntington Beach on Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A man cheers after smashing the sign through the bike shop window. Police would not say whether arrests were made. The violence followed the conclusion of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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At least one bike was stolen Sunday night. Passersby persuaded others to stop looting. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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People try to fend off rioters who began to loot the Easyrider retail store on Main Street in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Police move rioters away from Main Street in downtown Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A large group of people gather on the corner of Main and Orange streets in downtown Huntington Beach following the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Police open fire with pepper spray and rubber bullets after giving an order to disperse at the corner of Main and Orange streets in downtown Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A woman assists a man wincing in pain and attempting to give himself up after being shot with a rubber bullet. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A man winces in pain after being shot with a rubber bullet while confronting a large squadron of police in riot gear on Main Street in downtown Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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After being shot with a rubber bullet, a man continues to confront police in riot gear on Main Street in downtown Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A man surrenders after being shot with a rubber round while confronting a large contingent of police in downtown Huntington Beach following the U.S. Open of Surfing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Huntington Beach police officers make a stand at the corner of Main and Orange streets after a store was looted. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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People watch from inside a restaurant as a squadron of police in riot gear confront rioters on Main Street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Police used tear gas and nonlethal weapons to clear the crowd. (Allen J. Schaben, / Los Angeles Times)

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Authorities say the violence was put down in about two hours. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A woman takes photos as police force get into position to fend off rioters along Pacific Coast Highway in downtown Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

By Ari Bloomekatz and Kate Mather

July 30, 2013 2:52 PM PT

One of the suspects arrested in connection with looting and rioting in Huntington Beach has been identified as a Fullerton firefighter.

Anaheim resident Michael John Lytle, 30, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in connection with the disturbance that broke out after the eight-day U.S. Open of Surfing ended Sunday.

Gretchen Beatty, director of human resources for the city of Fullerton, confirmed that Lytle is a firefighter and has been placed on paid leave while “there is an investigation on the personnel side.”

Beatty said the city of Huntington Beach will conduct the criminal investigation.

She said Lytle was hired as a firefighter in February 2008, which was first reported by the Orange County Register.

Six other people were also arrested, including Huntington Beach resident Andres Gomez, 24, who was booked on suspicion of refusing to disperse and resisting arrest.

Michael Anthony Avila, 28, of Santa Ana; Joseph Monterrosa, 28, of Ontario; Adam A. Cecot, 18, of Irvine; Chase Scott Christman, 19, of Simi Valley; and Kyle Roger Crott, 18, of Riverside were also booked on charges related to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Huntington Beach Police said there could be further arrests.

Authorities are still trying to identify a man videotaped smashing a store window with a stop sign and cheering.

Many people had misidentified that suspect on social media. Huntington Beach police said detectives had spoken to Illario Niko Johnson, 18, and although charges “are expected” against the West Covina resident in connection with the disturbance, his alleged actions were “not related to the window smash.”

“He is not the suspect in the photograph,” police said in a statement.

Sunday evening, unruly beachgoers tipped over portable restrooms, sending waste flowing onto the road. They also rocked a city of Huntington Beach pickup truck, and threw traffic cones and wooden planks pulled from barricades at the truck’s windows after failing to flip it.

Huntington Beach police fired pepper balls and nonlethal projectiles to quell the crowd. Several officers sustained minor injuries, and one person was treated and released from a hospital after being hit by a rubber projectile.

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Twitter: @aribloomekatz