VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) — A man accused of gunning down a Vallejo police officer while trying to flee the scene of a bank robbery has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Police say 37-year-old Henry Albert Smith Jr. robbed a Bank of America branch on Nov. 17, then led police on a high-speed chase. They say that after Smith’s SUV spun to a stop, the suspect ran into a backyard and fatally shot Officer Jim Capoot, who was pursuing him.

Smith’s attorney, Oscar Bobrow, entered the not-guilty plea for his client Tuesday to murder with four special circumstances, including murder of a peace officer and murder in the commission of a robbery.

A funeral service for Capoot is planned for Wednesday morning at Vallejo High School. Gov. Jerry Brown is among those planning to attend.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.