H.B. man charged with shooting at Costa Mesa officer pleads not guilty
A Huntington Beach man accused of shooting at a Costa Mesa police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to seven felonies, including attempted murder, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Korrell Cole, 22, also is accused of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, impersonating an officer, grand theft, vehicle theft, two counts of residential burglary and possible sentencing enhancements related to use of a firearm.
Prosecutors allege that on Jan. 30, Cole 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 in Costa Mesa.
Police said the 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 a man running from the scene, police said, and an officer caught up with him on Mace Avenue at Wintergreen Place.
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 in the two homes.
Cole is being held at Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million, the district attorney’s office said. If he is convicted, Cole could face a maximum sentence of 35 years to life in state prison.
He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing March 29.
Cole is accused of committing the crimes while out on bail in two other pending cases.
According to court documents, he 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.
Cole was 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.
He also was charged with three felonies related to possession or use of tear gas in Costa Mesa. In that case, prosecutors alleged that Cole used mace, pepper spray or a similar substance to attack transients.