Daniel Cortez, Man Who Allegedly Assaulted Cops With Slingshot During Westlake Unrest, Pleads Not Guilty
A man who allegedly shot projectiles at police using a slingshot pleaded not guilty recently to two counts each of assault on a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon, the Los Angeles City Attorney's offie announced Monday.
Ted Soqui
The alleged attack happened on one of three nights of unrest in Westlake last week following a controversial police shooting of a man with a knife. Twenty-four-year-old Daniel Cortez was arrested Wednesday after police said he used the slingshot to hurl using the device to hurl "semi-round-shaped projectiles'' at Los Angeles police Lt. Juan Gonzalez and Sgt. Daniel Horan, officials said.
On Tuesday night, the second of three nights of unrest at the scene of the shooting at West Sixth Street and South Union Avenue, a Univision news reporter was also hit in the neck with an object believed to have been hurled from a slingshot. It's not clear if Cortez is suspected in that attack, however.
The man was being held in lieu of $26,000 bail. If convicted Cortez could see a year behind bars and a $10,000 fine.
Two other men allegedly involved in the unrest pleaded not guilty last week to charge of illegally starting fires. More than 20 people were arrested during last week's demonstrations, and more charges were expected.
Guatemalan immigrant Manuel Jamines was fatally shot by police Sept. 5 after he allegedly threatened officers and bystanders with a knife.
-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us. Follow us on Twitter, too: @dennisjromero.
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