A fugitive warrant was issued Friday, June 23 for a Santa Ana man when he failed to appear in court on charges of attacking a California Highway Patrol officer.

Jaime Balderaspaniagua, 34, 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 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.

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