Man charged with firing at Costa Mesa officer, breaking into houses and stealing car
A man accused of shooting at a Costa Mesa police officer last weekend was charged Tuesday with six felonies, according to court records.
Prosecutors allege that Korrell Cole, 22, fired a handgun, broke into two houses, tried to pass himself off as a police officer and ultimately stole a car while trying to avoid police Saturday in Costa Mesa.
According to court documents, Cole had been a fugitive from law enforcement since he missed a May court date related to a string of burglaries in 2012 and other offenses.
He is now being held in Orange County Jail with bail set at $750,000 and is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 19 on charges of assault on a peace officer, vehicle theft, grand theft, impersonating a police officer and two counts of burglary.
Police said Saturday’s incident began around 11:30 a.m. as officers were responding to reports of a crash near Harbor Boulevard and the 405 Freeway.
Officers saw one of the men involved running from the scene, police said, and an officer caught up with the man on Mace Avenue at Wintergreen Place.
But before the officer could get out of the police cruiser, the man fired at the officer with a handgun, police said.
The man then broke into a home in the 2900 block of Royal Palm Drive, flashed his gun and told the residents he was a police officer, prosecutor Jess Rodriguez said.
The man fled and broke into a second home on Royal Palm before stealing a car from the garage and trying to drive off, authorities said.
But an officer recognized him as he pulled out, police said.
Prosecutors suspect he stole jewelry and other items while he was inside the two homes.
Cole previously had been arrested in 2012 on suspicion of being part of a residential burglary ring in Orange County, according to court records.
At the time, authorities alleged that Cole and three others stormed a house in Fullerton and held a family hostage while trying to avoid capture.
In that case, Cole faces nine felony charges related to burglary and possession of stolen property. He’s also charged with three misdemeanors — one of resisting arrest and two of carrying a loaded firearm. He has pleaded not guilty.
Cole had been free on $20,000 bail in that case since February last year.
But he was charged in April with three felonies related to possession or use of tear gas in Costa Mesa. In that case, prosecutors alleged that Cole used using mace, pepper spray or a similar substance to attack transients, Rodriguez said.
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