Police Report Penn Attempt at Suicide

Sagon Penn, twice acquitted of a 1985 slaying of a police officer, tried to commit suicide Saturday evening, San Diego police said.

When police arrived at the home of Penn’s girlfriend in the 3800 block of Caminito Aguilar in Clairemont about 7 p.m. they found the 28-year-old Penn semi-conscious, reportedly from taking a combination of sleeping pills and alcohol.

Police said that officers were called in to “evaluate the situation” by paramedics. Penn’s girlfriend had called in the paramedics earlier, reporting that Penn had attempted suicide.

Penn was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. Hospital spokeswoman Cindy Cohagen said later that Penn was in fair condition and would be kept overnight for observation.

Two weeks ago, Penn was arrested after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Annilie Carmichael, at her home, then refused to leave and assaulted a police officer who was attempting to handcuff him.

Carmichael had called police to remove Penn from her home after he had allegedly grabbed her, twisted her arm.

When the district attorney failed to file charges within 48 hours, Penn remained in jail for violation of probation on a prior conviction. He later was released on $1,500 bail pending an April 5 probation revocation hearing.

Penn was sentenced to three years of probation last June after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor vandalism charges stemming from an altercation with an ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend. Probation officers claim that Penn had violated that probation by failing to report his change of address. When Carmichael called police to eject Penn from her apartment March 12, she told them that he had been living with her.

In a confrontation with police in 1985, Penn was accused of slaying San Diego Police Officer Thomas Riggs, wounding another officer and a civilian ride-along.

Juries in two separate trials acquitted Penn of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and assault charges.