Signal Hills Cop Drags Man From Car with Gun to the Head in Middle of Freeway in Road Rage Confrontation, Police Say

A former Signal Hill Police Department officer from Lake Forest was arrested today for allegedly attacking a man in a road rage confrontation on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Irvine.

Jacob Emory Swigger, 39, is charged with one felony count each of using excessive force and assault with a gun, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Swigger was on his way to work and was not in uniform when he allegedly attacked another motorist on the freeway near the Bake Parkway exit about 7 a.m. last Nov. 20, according to prosecutors.

Swigger was northbound on the freeway when the other motorist switched lanes in front of him, prompting the officer to begin pursuing the driver while regularly honking his horn, prosecutors allege.

Swigger allegedly cut off the other motorist, causing him to stop in the middle of the freeway. A gun-wielding Swigger then got out of his vehicle and ordered the other motorist out of his vehicle at gunpoint, prosecutors allege.

When the other motorist refused to get out of the car, Swigger got the driver’s side door open and pulled the man out, prosecutors allege.

The defendant allegedly slammed the man up against his own vehicle repeatedly while pointing a gun at his head. He also allegedly dragged the man behind the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Swigger, who no longer works for the Signal Hill department, was arrested today by California Highway Patrol officers and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

• City News Service

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