Movie star Pierce Brosnan is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for allegedly hitting a paparazzo last Friday outside Casa Escobar, a Mexican restaurant in Malibu.

Pierce Brosnan was having dinner with his young son Friday evening at Casa Escobar. The incident reportedly occurred at about 6.15, when a photographer by the name of Robert Rosen, apparently working for TMZ, approached the actor as he left the eatery.

The man apparently came very close to Brosnan and his boy, taking pictures and saying that he loves the actor’s James Bond movies. Brosnan seemed to be very reluctant about the photographer’s intentions and allegedly responded with some juicy expressions, Bond-style.

Blair Hanson from the Ability Films agency, who works with Robert Rosen, stated for OK! Magazine: “My friend Rob was keeping his distance and saying nice things to Pierce like ‘I love your movies.’ Pierce was just fake smiling and then went right in his face.”

Blair also gladly shared the exact words Brosnan said with OK!: “Why don't you f*** off, mate!” He added, “my friend said he instinctively just hit him in the balls.”

Sources told TMZ.com that the photographer replied to the punch in the same manner, hitting Brosnan in the stomach. He then proceeded to flee the scene, other sources said.

Sherriff’s spokesperson Steve Whitmore confirmed that Brosnan did commit the battery on Friday night outside the Mexican restaurant and stated that the police are “actively investigating” the case. The James Bond star was not arrested or detained according to Whitmore.

Neither Robert Rosen nor Brosnan’s publicist Jennifer Allen have made further comments on the event.