San Diego, CA, August 2, 2026 —

SAN DIEGO, CA – An 18-year-old San Diego resident is refuting claims that he was involved in the assault of a sea lion at La Jolla Cove, an incident captured in a viral video that has sparked a federal investigation. Ryland Cuttitta states he has been wrongly identified on social media as the perpetrator.

The incident in question occurred on July 22 at La Jolla Cove. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the event, looking into potential violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Cuttitta and his mother have stated that an online comment made by Cuttitta was misinterpreted, leading to him being accused of the assault. This misidentification, they claim, resulted in threats directed at their family.

According to reports, the family has since filed a report regarding the threats with the San Diego Police Department. They also stated that they are cooperating with the ongoing NOAA investigation.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the harassment, hunting, capture, or killing of marine mammals within the United States. Violations can carry significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

The investigation by NOAA is ongoing, and details regarding the identification of the individual in the video have not been officially released by the agency.


Story summarized from the original created by M.G. Perez on www.nbcsandiego.com, see more information here.

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