A fugitive warrant was issued Friday for a 34-year-old Santa Ana man when he failed to appear in court on charges of attacking a California Highway Patrol officer.
Jaime Balderaspaniagua was accused of attacking the 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, according to jail records and CHP Officer Anselmo Templado.
Balderaspaniagua was accused of yelling at passing drivers and attempting to remove a freeway sign, prompting officers to respond and detain him, Templado said. After the officers verbally warned him to stay away from the freeway and on-ramp and obtained his identification, he was cited and released, Templado said.
As a CHP motorcycle officer was getting ready to ride away, Balderaspaniagua confronted the officer and despite his efforts to de-escalate the conflict, a fight ensued, Templado said.
Three passersby came over to help the officer, Templado said.
Balderaspaniagua had pleaded guilty March 27 to a misdemeanor charge of vandalism and was placed on a year of informal probation, according to court records.
He is charged with battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.