Man in five-hour standoff pleads not guilty

A man accused of engaging in a five-hour standoff with police last week has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Edward Ernest Uribe, 41, of Carson, was arraigned Feb. 8 and is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The defendant faces felony charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in public and making a false claim to a peace officer that he had a bomb, according to the complaint.

Misdemeanor charges against him include driving under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, and resisting and obstructing a police officer.

Laguna Beach police said Uribe was involved in a five-vehicle traffic accident at 5:20 p.m. Feb. 6 on Coast Highway and Vista Del Sol.

Officers tried to get Uribe out of a Ford Mustang, but he refused to comply. An officer fired one round, striking the car, but did not injure Uribe, according to police.

Orange County SWAT team members were called in to assist police. Uribe remained in the car until officers eventually fired tear gas into the vehicle. Uribe got out of the car 30 minutes later and collapsed on the sidewalk. Officers took him into custody.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

—Bryce Alderton