Poway man accused of injuring deputies in multiple incidents

POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) – Thomas Apollo of Poway pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a series of charges stemming from an incident that allegedly led to a chase with sheriff’s deputies in his neighborhood on Wednesday.

It is the third time in less than three years that Apollo has been charged with violence.

The Sheriff’s Department tells ABC 10News they received a call from the Chabad of Poway on Monday reporting an intruder. When a deputy arrived, Apollo became violent and punched the deputy in the face, prosecutors say.

This sparked a struggle in which Apollo reportedly grabbed the deputy’s Taser. Apollo then got into the driver’s seat of his car and drove off with the deputy still holding on.

That was the start of an 18-minute chase through the nearby neighborhood just after 3 p.m. Monday, shortly after Chaparral Elementary School closed for the day. The school went into “safe campus” mode. Many families reported seeing a car flying by with officers chasing them.

“I just came home from picking up my kids and saw a swarm of police cars driving past my back yard, car after car after car,” a witness told ABC 10News.

Prosecutors said Apollo eventually drove to his house, got out of his car and tried to escape. A sheriff’s dog attacked him, but prosecutors said Apollo continued to fight back, injuring four other officers before he was finally overpowered.

Apparently there was a similar incident in November 2023. Apollo faces a series of charges that began when he allegedly pushed an elderly neighbor to the ground after she refused to let him pet her dog. When officers arrived, he was accused of resisting and injuring four people.

Neighbors told ABC 10News Apollo had repeatedly caused problems through harassment and reckless driving through the neighborhood.

“Unfortunately we knew who it was when we heard the sirens. Day by day we are starting to feel unsafe,” said a neighbor.

Apollo also faces open criminal cases in Orange County, including a December 2021 incident that made national headlines when he allegedly assaulted nurses at a vaccination clinic in Tustin.

He had reportedly shouted conspiracy theories. When the nurses asked Apollo to put on a mask, he allegedly began hitting them. Several witnesses overpowered him until the police arrived. Apollo was subsequently accused of groping the nurse who treated his injuries sustained in the incident.

This case is still pending. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office tells ABC 10News a mental health diversion hearing is scheduled later this month.

During Wednesday’s arraignment hearing in downtown San Diego, Apollo pleaded not guilty. His attorney argued for a bail reduction because of treatment for mental illness and PTSD triggered by encounters with law enforcement.

However, the judge refused to grant him bail, citing the numerous violent incidents and the fact that he had already been released on bail on the charges in November.

Throughout the hearing, Apollo repeatedly attempted to speak, resulting in the judge ordering the bailiff to turn off his microphone.