Santa Ana gang member looking at life in prison after trying to kill a police officer

After serving 8-years in prison for assault with a firearm on a Santa Ana police officer, a documented gang member-parolee again violently assaults another SAPD police officer, according to the SAPD.

On Monday July 1, 2019 in North Court in front of the honorable Judge Rogan, Carlos Michael Rodriguez (34) from Santa Ana, was sentenced to 55 years to life in state prison for the attempted murder of Santa Ana Gang Detective, Corporal M. Lemmon. At the conclusion of the criminal trial, the jury found Rodriguez guilty of:

• PC 664(e)/187(a) Attempt murder on an officer
• PC 245(d)(2) Assault with a semiautomatic firearm
• PC 29800(a)(1) Possession of a firearm by a felon
• PC 12022.53(c) Discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime (enhancement)
• H&S 11351 Possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell (heroin)
• H&S 11378 Possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell (methamphetamine)

This sentencing arose out of a violent confrontation that occurred in the City of Santa Ana on February 17, 2016. Gang Detectives were conducting proactive enforcement in the 2700 block of West McFadden when they attempted to contact Rodriguez. During the encounter, Rodriguez fired one of his weapons at Cpl. Lemmon, striking him with a graze wound to the head. Cpl. Lemmon returned fire striking the suspect in the upper and lower torso. Detectives recovered Rodriguez’s two loaded handguns at the scene.

Following the court’s decision, Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin stated, “By way of this sentencing the message is clear. As a community we cannot tolerate continued violence against anyone, especially violent acts committed against our uniformed police officers.”