Hospital Releases Sagon Penn After Attempt to Kill Himself

Sagon Penn was released from Sharp Memorial Hospital early Sunday morning after a suicide attempt. A hospital spokeswoman said that Penn, 28, was released at 3:50 a.m. after being brought in semi-conscious, reportedly from taking a combination of sleeping pills and alcohol.

Penn’s girlfriend, Annilie Carmichael, summoned paramedics to her home on Caminito Aguilar in Clairemont about 7 p.m. Saturday. Carmichael said that Penn had attempted suicide. Paramedics called police to check the apartment before treating Penn.

Police arrested Penn two weeks ago when Carmichael reported that she had been assaulted by Penn in her home. Carmichael called police when Penn refused to leave. He was later charged with assaulting a police officer who was attempting to handcuff him. He was not prosecuted but has a court hearing on April 5, when the district attorney’s office is expected to argue for a probation revocation.

Penn was sentenced to three years’ probation in 1989 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor vandalism charges stemming from a fight with an ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend.

In 1985, Penn was accused of killing San Diego Police Officer Thomas Riggs and wounding officer Donovan Jacobs and civilian ride-along Sara Pina Ruiz. He was acquitted of all charges in two separate trials when both juries ruled that police had provoked the incident by beating Penn.