Pacoima Woman Indicted For Murder In Crash That Killed LAPD Motor Officer
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Pacoima woman has been indicted for murder in a fatal crash that killed a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer in 2014.
Qaneak Shaney Cobb, 35, pleaded not guilty Tuesday when the three-count indictment was unsealed. Cobb, who is being held on $1 million bail, was charged with one count each of murder, possession of a controlled substance and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the death of LAPD Officer Christopher Cortijo.
Cortijo, 51, a 26-year veteran of the LAPD and a former Marine, was stopped at a red light behind another vehicle at Lankershim Boulevard and Saticoy Street at about 5:20 p.m. on April 5, 2014 when a Chevrolet Blazer driven by Cobb hit him from behind, prosecutors said. The crash crushed the officer between the two vehicles, and he died at a hospital four days later.
Cobb has prior convictions for grand theft and drug possessions and was originally charged with the same counts in a case filed in April 2014. Prosecutors say that case will now be dismissed.
Cobb, who faces up to life in state prison if convicted, is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26.
