South Bay Chainsaw-Weilding Suspect Charged with Attack on Police, Former Co-Workers

TORRANCE, CA - Criminal charges were filed Thursday against a Compton man who allegedly aimed a large work truck at a Torrance police officer and attacked two other men at a landscaping business in Torrance.

Jose Felix Campos Cortez, 44, is scheduled to be arraigned later Thursday in a Torrance courtroom on one felony count each of attempted murder of a peace officer and assault upon a peace officer and two felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism with over $400 in damage, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Cortez allegedly threw rocks Tuesday at the owner of a landscaping business with whom he had previously worked and rammed the owner's vehicle with his work truck, prosecutors said.

He also allegedly chased after a security guard while wielding a chainsaw and trying to start it, according to prosecutors.

After police arrived at the scene, Cortez allegedly aimed his truck and accelerated it toward an officer, who was able to get out of the way, according to prosecutors.

Officers fired at Cortez, but did not strike him, authorities said.

Cortez has remained jailed since his arrest shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday.

If convicted, he could face up to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock