TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) - A man who allegedly chased someone with a chainsaw and aimed a truck at a Torrance police officer has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of a peace officer.
City News Service says Jose Cortez entered the plea to that and other felonies on Thursday - two days after a confrontation that ended with gunfire.
He’s jailed on $1 million bail.
Cortez previously worked for a landscaping business.
Authorities say on Tuesday, the 44-year-old Compton man threw rocks at the business owner in a storage yard, chased a security guard while trying to start a chainsaw, rammed the owner’s car with a truck and drove the truck toward a police officer.
Police shot at him but missed. He was later arrested and could face life in prison if convicted.
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