Three good samaritans came to the aid of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer May 19 when he was attacked by a pedestrian in Santa Ana following a citation, authorities said.
The passersby helped to free the officer from a headlock, and the suspect was arrested once the altercation ended, CHP Officer Anselmo Templado told The Epoch Times.
“The CHP Santa Ana Area expresses our gratitude and appreciation to the remarkable individuals who came to the aid of our motor officer in need,” a statement from the highway patrol reads.
The incidents started when two officers from the CHP responded to a report of a pedestrian yelling at passing motorists and attempting to remove a freeway sign around 5 p.m. at the Main Street on-ramp of the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway, according to Templado.
Upon arrival, officers were able to detain the subject and gather the suspect’s identification, Templado added. Once they verbally warned him about avoiding the freeway and on-ramp, the individual was issued a citation and released.
However, as one CHP officer was about to ride away on his motorcycle, the suspect walked back to the on-ramp and confronted the officer, he said.
The officer was pinned down to the ground by the suspect during the altercation, which was when the good samaritans jumped in to help, according to Templado.
One of them was Everardo Navarro, who was on his way to an event in Orange County, while the other two remained anonymous, Templado said.
Navarro punched the suspect to free the officer but was not successful during the initial attempts, CBS Los Angeles reported.
“I punched the guy in the ribs but it felt like nothing,” Navarro told CBS. “He just continued grabbing the officer down. At that moment, my only concern was to avoid the person from grabbing the officer’s gun.”
With the other two men’s help, Navarro was able to pull the suspect away from the officer.
According to Templado, the situation could have ended up much worse if not for the help of the three passersby.
“Their selfless actions and unwavering support embody the true spirit of community and compassion,” he added in an emailed statement. “Their swift response and willingness to lend a helping hand undoubtedly made a significant difference, ensuring the safety and well-being of not only our officer, but also the suspect.”
The suspect was identified as Jaime Balderas Paniagua, 34, from Santa Ana, who was released from the jail the day before the incident, according to Templado and jail records.
Paniagua was booked into the Orange County jail on assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest charges. He pleaded not guilty May 23 to the charges, according to Templado.
He was scheduled for a pretrial hearing June 1 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
