A 44-year-old Long Island man bit a police officer and crawled under clothing racks inside a Target store after vigilante predator hunters confronted him during what they claim was an attempt to meet a minor, according to wild video footage that captured the March 3 incident.

Confrontation Turns Violent Inside Store

Mark Zimmerman of Massapequa initially remained calm when members of the New York Predator Hunters questioned him inside the Copiague Target location. The group alleged Zimmerman sent sexually explicit messages and inappropriate images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an adult member of their organization. When confronted about a graphic photo, Zimmerman bizarrely claimed the image showed his friend’s genitals rather than his own, according to video of the encounter.

NEW: Wild video shows Long Island man biting a cop, calling his mom, and crawling through a Target during a predator sting

Mark Zimmerman, 44, was confronted inside a Copiague Target on March 3 after believing he was meeting a 14-year-old girl but instead encountered members of… pic.twitter.com/J3ONkCSiQs

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 13, 2026

The situation deteriorated rapidly when Zimmerman attempted to flee the store. A waiting police officer pursued him back inside, triggering a chaotic scene captured on video. Zimmerman screamed that he was calling his mother while running through the store with officers in pursuit. When police caught up to him, he repeatedly yelled about having a heart condition and resisted arrest as officers attempted to restrain him on the floor.

Bizarre Resistance Tactics Caught on Camera

During the struggle, Zimmerman bit one of the arresting officers before writhing across the floor and crawling underneath a clothing rack in an apparent attempt to avoid being handcuffed. The officer can be heard on video confirming the bite. Members of the vigilante group assisted police in detaining Zimmerman after the incident escalated. The predator hunting organization shared screenshots of text messages they claim show Zimmerman arranged the Target meeting through social media with someone he thought was a teenage girl.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation Continue

Zimmerman did not respond to media requests for comment following the incident. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 23 for his arraignment on charges related to the arrest. Suffolk County police declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing active investigation. The case highlights the controversial role of civilian predator hunting groups, which operate outside official law enforcement channels to identify and confront individuals they suspect of attempting to solicit minors online. Critics question whether such vigilante tactics compromise criminal investigations and due process.