Temecula Police Nab Wanted Felon After Chase, Motor Strike

TEMECULA, CA — A wanted man who was intentionally hit by a Temecula Police Department motor officer after he "was seen reaching into the front waistband area of his person" has been publicly identified and remains jailed as of Monday, police records show.

Virgil Zwicker, 37, was arrested Wednesday in the area of Wolf Creek Park, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Fred Collazo.

It all started about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 31000 block of Bitterroot Court when deputies found Zwicker, who was wanted on firearms, stalking and other related charges, Collazo said.

There was a brief standoff in the driveway when Zwicker refused to obey investigators' orders and he reached into the cab of his vehicle.

"It was unknown if he retrieved a weapon," the sergeant said. "Zwicker retreated through the residence and fled the area on foot."

He was soon spotted in the area of Wolf Creek Park.

When deputies tried to detain him, "Zwicker was seen reaching into the front waistband area of his person by deputies, when a motor unit intentionally collided into Zwicker," Collazo said. A deputy and Zwicker were injured in the collision and were taken to hospitals for treatment of non-life- threatening injuries, he said.

A search warrant was served at the residence and firearms and ammunition were seized, Collazo said.

Zwicker was treated at the hospital and booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of felony stalking, resisting arrest and being an ex-felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, he said. Bail was set at $500,000.

Zwicker was slated to appear in a Riverside County courtroom on Monday, records indicated.

Zwicker is also wanted in San Diego County.

— City News Service contributed to this report