'Pull The Bike Over!' Police Pursuit Of Bicycle-Riding Suspect Caught On Video In Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta police officers investigating a disturbance between a man and a woman one week ago at Century Park ended up on a bicycle pursuit across city streets before catching their suspect, police said.

Dwight Willett, 44, was placed under arrest after the pursuit on Nov. 27 and was being held at the Southwest Detention Center. He was due to appear in court on Wednesday to answer formal charges on multiple misdemeanors and felonies related to possession of hard drugs, resisting arrest, obstruction, and petty theft with priors, according to jail records.

Officers were called to Century Park for a disturbance that afternoon, near Las Brisas Road and Bolina Drive, and made contact with the individuals involved.

"Reluctant to offer a statement, our rider took off," Sgt. Matt Schmidt said. The rider, later identified as Willett, zigzagged and avoided authorities on his bicycle, evading officers by riding on city streets and through a nearby apartment complex.

During the chase, officers were caught on video using loudspeakers to announce, "Pull the bike over, you are wanted for a felony," and to issue safety warnings to the rider, saying, "Stop riding in the opposite lane of travel."

They followed Willett both in police vehicles and on foot up and down Hancock Avenue, through the Waterstone at Murrieta apartments, where the chase ended in a takedown by an arresting officer into a gravel-covered planter.

Willett was ultimately booked into jail for his outstanding felony warrants, possession of a controlled substance and obstructing a police officer, after being cleared by medical personnel.

The department shared the chase on their popular Facebook page, drawing over a hundred responses.

"This was better than a scene from Cops," one resident said.

Another resident said that Murrieta's police are the "most professional, down-to-earth officers. If he would have just stopped he wouldn't have ended up with those rock dents on his face."

A mother thanked the department, saying:

"Thank you MPD! I take my child to this park often & most times there are sketchy individuals hanging out right at the top by the park sign."

Another resident claimed the video was an educational look at what Community-Oriented Policing is all about. "This is how policing should always be."

More than one asked after the bike, and whether it survived the takedown. (See the full comments here, on the Murrieta Police Facebook Page).

"He could ride a bit, but the moves he was making created additional hazards both to himself and the public," Schmidt said. "Unfortunately for him, the joy ride was brought to an unceremonious halt."