Knife-Wielding Man Stopped by Deputies

Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 35-year-old Santa Ana man who allegedly tried to run over a jogger and then lunged at a deputy with two 10-inch knives on Wednesday, officials said.

Lt. Jay Mendez said Robert Ronquillo swerved his gray Datsun in an apparent attempt to run over a jogger on the bike trail near Pacific Coast Highway about 7:40 a.m.

The jogger jumped into some bushes and called authorities, officials said. When Deputy Gregory Upham arrived at the scene, he spotted Ronquillo’s car farther north on the bike trail at Camino del Avion, officials said.

Mendez said Ronquillo then came toward Upham holding two 10-inch knives taped together at the handles with duct tape, Mendez said.

“Even with the deputy having his gun out, the guy lunged at him,” Mendez said.

Four other deputies and a sergeant arrived and tried to talk Ronquillo into dropping his knives, but he refused. Mendez said there was evidence that Ronquillo had been drinking.

“One of his comments was, ‘Go for it,’ ” Mendez said.

One deputy managed to spray pepper spray in Ronquillo’s direction and Ronquillo dropped the knives and was taken into custody. He faces two felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and assault with a deadly weapon on the jogger, Mendez said.

Mendez commended Upham for using “great restraint” in a potentially deadly situation.

“Luckily, it turned out good,” Mendez said. “It sounded like the deputy had reasonable cause to shoot him.”