Additional charges filed against former Cathedral City Police Officer
October 6, 2023
A former Cathedral City police officer previously charged with possessing fentanyl taken as part of an investigation, now faces additional charges related to two different incidences reported around Riverside County this week.
DA Mike Hestrin announced the filing of three more counts against Claudiu Murzea today. Those charges in case RIF2304323 include a felony count of making criminal threats, misdemeanor domestic battery, and a violation of a protective order.
The new charges stem from accusations made against Murzea on Oct. 3 that he violated the terms of a standing protective order, and from another incident on Oct. 4, in which he threatened to harm and then attacked a woman.
Murzea was arrested by the Riverside Police Department’s Multi Enforcement Tactical Response Operation (METRO) in Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday and is being held on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center. He is expected to be arraigned on the new charges today at the Riverside Hall of Justice at 1:30 p.m. in Dept. 33.
Murzea is also currently scheduled to appear for a confirmation of counsel hearing at the Larson Justice Center in case INM2205508 on Oct. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
If convicted on all charges in case RIF2304323, Murzea is eligible for up to three years in state prison. He was terminated from employment as an officer of the Cathedral City Police Department in July 2022.
