Former Bellator and Strikeforce fighter Virgil Zwicker, 37, was arrested in Temecula, CA last week after a “brief standoff,” according to Valley News. The standoff ended when Zwicker was intentionally hit with a motorcycle being driven by a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy.
The incident began when sheriff’s deputies arrived at Zwicker’s home. They were reportedly there because of warrants for Zwicker’s arrest regarding firearms, stalking, and other related charges.
The deputies allegedly met Zwicker on his driveway in the Wolf Creek neighborhood. Investigators have reported that Zwicker refused the deputies orders before reaching into the cab of his vehicle. Zwicker then, according to law enforcement, “retreated through the residence and fled the area on foot.”
The deputies caught up with Zwicker, a short time later, in Wolf Creek Park. Police sources told Valley News that deputies tried to detain him there, but Zwicker refused to comply. Sgt. Collazo relayed that Zwicker was seen reaching into his waistband during this standoff.
It was then that a motorcycle unit intentionally collided with Zwicker. Collazo described the end of the standoff: “A use of force ensued and Zwicker was ultimately taken into custody.”
Zwicker, and the deputy who was riding the motorcycle, were transported to nearby hospitals and treated for non-life threatening injuries. A firearm and ammunition was later found in Zwicker’s home. No weapon was reportedly found on Zwicker’s person or anywhere in Wolf Creek Park.
Zwicker was then booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center for felony stalking, resisting arrest, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Zwicker’s pro mixed martial arts career reaches back to 2003. In that time he has amassed a record of 17-8-1. During his career he has competed seven times for Bellator (between 2013 and 2016). Zwicker also appeared for Strikeforce, KSW, and the Chechnya-based World Fighting Championship Akhmat.
His most recent contest came at Oktagon 12 in Bratislava, Slovakia last month. There he defeated former Bellator light heavyweight champion Attila Vegh by knockout. Other notable names on Zwicker’s record include Aleksander Emlianenko, Lavar Johnson, Houston Alexander, and Ovince Saint Preux.
A records search for Zwicker’s name with the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego showed 10 criminal cases dating between 2003 and 2014. According to an interview with Zwicker published on MMA Fighting, Zwicker once served over four years in prison on charges of assaulting a police officer. That article states that Zwicker returned to prison a year after his release because he knocked someone’s “eyeball out.”
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