Warrant issued for a Santa Ana man who attacked a CHP officer

Jaime Balderaspaniagua, 34, a Santa Ana man accused of attacking a CHP officer is on the lam now after he failed to appear in court.

A fugitive warrant was issued on Friday, June 23 for Balderaspaniagua, who is accused of attacking the the CHP officer just after 5 p.m. May 19 at the Main Street on-ramp to the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway, just a day after he was released from jail.

Balderaspaniagua was accused of yelling at passing drivers and attempting to remove a freeway sign, which prompted the CHP to respond and detain him, according to the CHP.

After the officers warned Balderaspaniagua to stay away from the freeway and on-ramp and obtained his identification, he was cited and released.

As the responding CHP motorcycle officer was getting ready to ride away, Balderaspaniagua attacked the officer, despite the officers’ efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Fortunately three local residents who were nearby ran over to help the officer.

Balderaspaniagua had pleaded guilty on March 27 to a misdemeanor charge of vandalism and was placed on a year of informal probation.

If the authorities are able to catch Balderaspaniagua he is likely looking at spending a few years in state prison.