Holly MatkinSanta Ana, CA – Three good Samaritans heroically jumped in to help save a California Highway Patrol (CHP) motorcycle officer who was being assaulted by a violent suspect late last week (video below).
The attack occurred at the Main Street northbound on-ramp to the 5 Freeway at approximately 5 p.m. on May 19, KTLA reported.
A CHP motorcycle officer had responded to the area after citizens made reports that a man was trying to rip down a freeway sign while yelling at motorists.
Officials later said the officer was planning to issue a warning to the man about his behavior and to send him on his way, KTLA reported.
Cell phone footage showed the officer speaking with the suspect when the suspect suddenly attacked him.
The officer and the suspect tumbled into the roadway during the ensuing brawl.
At one point during the fight, the suspect appeared to place his arm on the front of the officer’s throat.
He was climbing on top of the struggling officer when a good Samaritan in a camouflage shirt suddenly ran up and intervened, the video showed.
The citizen threw at least one punch and grabbed onto the combative suspect while the officer scrambled back onto his feet.
Two more good Samaritans rushed in a moment later and they all helped the officer pin the violent man to the pavement.
One of the heroic citizens, Everardo Navarro, said he jumped in to help the officer as soon as it became clear he needed it, KTLA reported.
“Since I see the officer down, I was concerned about the guy grabbing the officer’s gun and shooting the officer,” Navarro told the news outlet. “That was my biggest concern and possibly doing the same to me. So, in that moment, I didn’t have any other choice.”
Navarro recalled having punched the suspect in the ribs, but said it didn’t do much to waylay the attack, CBS News reported.
“He just continued grabbing the officer down,” he said.
Police have identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jaime Paniagua, KTLA reported.
Paniagua was arrested on multiple offenses, including resisting arrest and assault and battery on a peace officer.
The CHP officer suffered minor injuries during the assault and was treated and released at a local hospital, KTLA reported.
Navarro said the officer was extremely appreciative that he and the other two citizens were willing to help him.
“He said thank you at least five, six times,” Navarro told CBS News. “I could sense that he was being very honest from his heart that he knew what type of risk he was going through.”
Navarro said he doesn’t consider his actions to have been anything heroic.
“No, we’re just all human beings,” he told KTLA. “I would do that for anybody, anytime.”
CHP Officer Anselmo Templado said he is thankful for the three men who rushed in to help his fellow officer.
“I think it’s amazing that three good Samaritans came in and stepped in and helped our officer out,” Officer Templado told KTLA. “It’s not very often that you see something like that. Usually, it’s just people recording and standing by.”
“I just want to thank those three good Samaritans for helping out our officer,” he added. “It could’ve ended very badly, but luckily for them no one was seriously injured, and we got the subject under control.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
Random Bystanders spring into action when a Motorcycle Cop in Santa Ana, California needs help..
Good people still exist.
❤️🤍💙 pic.twitter.com/xXIoapriQP— BIG DAVE (@2bz4thot) May 23, 2023
