Newport Beach Police Department’s dispatch center was notified of an assault at a residence in the 800 block of 15th Street at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday, according to authorities.
Officers arrived and contacted the victim, who had fled to a neighbor’s home for safety, a NBPD press release explains. Staff from the Newport Beach Fire Department responded to the scene to render medical aid and transport the victim to a local hospital for further medical attention.
Officers attempted to contact the suspect (identified as Scott Patrick Cole) at the residence where the assault had occurred, but he repeatedly refused to come to the front door, police reported.
Cole appeared extremely agitated and began breaking windows and objects inside the home, officers note in the statement. He subsequently barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to come out.
The Crisis Response Unit was activated, and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) and Crisis Negotiation teams responded to assist with the incident. A Newport Beach Police Department K9, Irvine Police Department K9, and members of the Irvine Police Department S.W.A.T. team also responded in support of the Crisis Response Unit.
After several hours of attempted negotiations, Cole still refused to engage with NBPD staff or leave the residence. His behavior continued to be erratic and destructive, according to police on the scene. Officers obtained warrants to enter the home and to take the suspect into custody. Cole was safely apprehended without incident at 10:14 p.m.
Although initial information indicated that Cole was armed with a knife, that detail is still being investigated.
