This is the 1963rd most frequent German word.
erwischte
"Erwischte" is the simple past tense of "erwischen," meaning "caught" or "managed to catch."
In this sentence, 'erwischte' is used in a question form, inquiring whether the police caught someone. It serves to describe an action of being caught or confronted.
Erwischte ihn die Polizei bei der roten Ampel?
Did the police catch him at the red light?
Here, 'erwischte' indicates an act of discovering an action someone was performing, often with the implication that it was unintended or sneaky.
Sie erwischte ihren kleinen Bruder beim Naschen vor dem Abendessen.
She caught her little brother snacking before dinner.
In this usage, 'erwischte' refers to successfully managing to reach or acquire something in time, showcasing its versatility in describing catching or finding.