Oceanside Police Chief's Wife Goes On Trial For Shooting At Cypress Officers

SANTA ANA (CBS) — Trial begins Thursday for a woman, reportedly the wife of an Oceanside police chief and former Cypress councilman, who shot at police after calling 911 and prompting a stand-off.

Brinda Sue McCoy, 49, of Cypress, will go on trial in connection with charges she faces for shooting at police from inside her home on Dec. 16, 2010.

McCoy is charged with six felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer and a felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, along with sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm.

Prosecutors say McCoy called police at about 7 p.m. that night, saying she needed police assistance, then refused to leave her home when Cypress Police Department officers arrived.

McCoy pointed a firearm at her head and the ceiling before pointing it directly at the police officers outside, prosecutors said. Officers warned her that if she fired her weapon, she could hurt one of the officers positioned behind vehicles in front of her house, according to District Attorney's office.

Despite the warning, McCoy allegedly fired the gun twice from inside her home at police officers stationed behind parked vehicles outside.

Special Weapons and Tactics officers used less-than-lethal force to subdue and arrest McCoy, who faces a maximum sentence of 61 years and eight months in state prison.

McCoy is married to Frank McCoy, who served eight years on the Cypress City Council, including as mayor, according to the Orange County Register. Frank McCoy is currently chief of police in Oceanside in San Diego County.