A 45-year-old man was charged Tuesday with attacking a couple and their two children with a knife in an alleged road-rage incident in Santa Ana.
Candido Ramirez was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse and endangerment, all felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license due to a DUI.
Ramirez pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return to court Aug. 29 for a pretrial hearing.
Police were called at 9 p.m. Sunday to a gas station at 2721 W. Edinger Ave. alleging an assault with a deadly weapon, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Ramirez was accused of trying to stab a man over a traffic accident, Bertagna said. The man was with his girlfriend and two children, Bertagna said.
The victim struck the suspect as he was trying to drive away, Bertagna said.
The suspect was found across the street at a Subway restaurant bleeding from a shin, Bertagna said.
News
Top news of the day
Ramirez told police he was upset at the victims for hitting his car, Bertagna said. He claimed he did not threaten them with a knife, but a kitchen knife was found in a grassy area about 30 feet away from the suspect's vehicle, Bertagna said.
