SANTA CLARA – 24-year-old Ignacio Maldonado is being held on a no-bail warrant on charges under PC 245 (a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon, PC 664-211-212.5(c), second degree attempted robbery, PC 459-460(a), first degree burglary, PC 245(a)(1), and assault with a deadly weapon, and with allegations under PC 12022-7(a) – person who personally inflicts great bodily injury on another. A criminal docket from Santa Clara County reports that Maldonado has been convicted under PC 667(b)-(i)/1170.12, in which he has two strike priors for committing violent crimes. This case marks as a third strike for the violent nature of the new offense.
On Thursday morning, October 2, Maldonado used a weapon to assault a victim near El Camino Real and Calabazas Blvd. in Santa Clara. It was around 2:00 am when the suspect approached a 49-year-old woman who had fallen asleep in her vehicle. The suspect used a knife to try and gain entry and slashed the female victim’s ear and face. The victim told officers that the man had approached her, waking her and demanding money.
Ignacio Maldonado booking photo
The victim said she had just finished her shift. She had worked for more than 16 hours in the past 24 hours and was falling asleep while driving, so she pulled over to rest before heading home. She was awoken by a tapping on her window, “Are you okay?” Maldonado asked her, “Do you want me to drive you home?” Becoming more aggressive Maldonado asked, “What’s in your back seat?” “Do you have any money?” Maldonado put his hand on the driver’s side window and tried to push the window down. The victim, while trying to use the automatic controls, accidentally lowered the window, allowing Maldonado to reach in further. The female victim, now with the window lowered completely, began to yell, “Help me!” in hopes of raising someone’s attention to come and help.
Maldonado grabbed the woman with his right hand. She tried to open the door to try and move him away, but he was able to keep his stance and moved towards entering the vehicle with his head and torso halfway into the driver side of the vehicle. Finally gaining her wits about her, she was able to start her vehicle and accelerate away. Once she was able to drive away, leaving him behind, she noticed that she was bleeding from her right ear, nose and eye. The victim drove to the hospital to report her injuries and was able to contact the police about the incident. The laceration to her right ear required 13 stitches.
The home invasion occurred just two blocks from the first incident.
Maldonado was also linked to a home invasion robbery at 3143 Cabrillo Ave that also occurred on October 2, within an hour of the first attack. In both incidents Maldonado had used a knife to stab his victims. Maldonado lived with his girlfriend just a short distance – within two blocks – from where both attacks occurred. When police asked Maldonado’s girlfriend about the time of the incidents, she told police that he was not home at the time they occurred.
Maldonado had forced his way into the home and demanded money from a female resident. When Maldonado confronted her, the woman’s brother heard her yelling for help and came down the stairs to confront Maldonado. During the struggle to try and free the female victim Maldonado stabbed him repeatedly. Another man, who also resided in the home, was able to help the victim push Maldonado back out into the street to try and stop the attack. The male victim received 1 inch to 4 inch lacerations to his left ear, neck, cheek and left arm.
The responding Santa Clara Police Officers decided to use a Police Service Dog to try and locate the suspect. Maldonado was found hiding in the bushes several blocks from the crime scene with his shirt off, revealing several tattoos and blood running down his back. Several officers were called to help apprehend him. Maldonado was subsequently arrested without further incident and booked him into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on home invasion robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The next court date has been scheduled for Dec 12 at 1:30 PM for plea in Dept 23.
