A former Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) officer was arrested last week on charges of assault under color of authority and assault with a firearm.
Jacob Swigger, a 39-year-old resident of Lake Forest, surrendered to the California Highway Patrol and was booked at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on a felony arrest warrant issued out of Orange County Superior Court, according to the SHPD. He then posted bail and was released pending an arraignment at a future date.
Swigger’s arrest was related to a “road rage” incident that occurred on the 405 Freeway in Orange County in November 2014. At the time of the incident, Swigger was employed as a police officer by the City of Signal Hill, although he was off-duty and driving a personal vehicle when the incident occurred.
“Mr. Swigger is no longer employed by the City of Signal Hill,” said SHPD Chief Michael Langston. “Police officers’ conduct on and off duty must comport with their oath of office, the law enforcement code of ethics and strict professional standards. The California Highway Patrol and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office conducted a complete, thorough and unbiased investigation into this matter, and that investigation concluded with criminal charges being filed against Mr. Swigger. That said, as chief of police, I am nonetheless saddened by the fact that someone who had previously subscribed to a life of public service has been charged with a crime.”
Source: SHPD
