NORWICH – Two City of Norwich Police Officers were injured Friday afternoon as they attempted to capture a fleeing suspect wanted on a warrant.
Police said Sgt. Scott Meade received cuts and bruises to his right wrist and forearm after he collided with a parking sign during the altercation. He was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital following the arrest for X-rays and treatment.
Officer Thomas Miller suffered eye exposure to his own pepper spray after he used it on the fleeing man. He was treated at the scene by Norwich Fire EMS crews. After receiving treatment, both officers returned to active duty later that day.
At around 2:50 p.m. Friday, Miller was following up leads to locate 30-year-old Zachariah J. Zwickel of 79 Sheldon St. in the City of Norwich, and traveled 50 Fair St. after receiving tips on the wanted man’s whereabouts, said police at the scene.
“While serving a warrant for an individual at 50 Fair Street in the City of Norwich, officers encountered the defendant in the residence and he immediately fled by jumping out of a window. A short foot pursuit in the street followed with the defendant resisting the arrest. Sgt. Mead received injures to his forearm and Officer Miller was contaminated by pepper spray employed by officers during the course of the arrest,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
The Chenango County Court had issued an arrest warrant for Zwickel over an alleged violation of his probation.
The Chenango County Court Clerk’s Office reported that Judge W. Howard Sullivan issued a warrant for Zwickel May 22 after he failed to appear for court. He was on probation for a conviction of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.
After arriving at the Fair Street address with Meade, Miller said he encountered Zwickel inside the residence and the defendant fled, diving out an open window. Meade, who was outside the house, pursued Zwickel down Fair Street. During the chase, Meade collided with a parking sign as he attempted to apprehend the defendant.
Zwickel was then sprayed by Miller, who was also contaminated, partially blinding the officer. Zwickel was subsequently tackled on the porch steps of a neighboring home by Meade, causing both men to crash through a wooden railing before police were able to bring him into custody.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that Zwickel continued to resist officers even after being sprayed. He received treatment at the scene and was taken to the city’s lockup.
One of those witnesses, Percy Squires, who was walking home from the grocery store, said the injured officers asked him for help in picking the defendant up off the ground.
“I saw the police go out to the back of the house and then a guy came running out front. The next thing I knew, the guy is running down the street with the cop chasing him and then the cop went down. I couldn’t believe it. The other cop then sprayed the guy,” he said.
Squires said he thought Zwickel had intentionally caused Meade to hit the sign. “He went right after the cop,” he said.
Zwickel was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief, second degree assault, third degree escape and resisting arrest. He will appear in Norwich City Court at a later date.