12.02.2024 | 10:11 PM | FOUNTAIN VALLEY – A documented white supremacist gang member was facing charges including murder and arson following a deadly pursuit that ended in a crash, Monday night.
The incident began to unfold when officers responded to reports of a suspect, later identified as Timothy Bradford Cole II, of Huntington Beach, lighting a fire at the home of his sister’s fiance in the 18200 block of Arches Court around 7:30 PM.
Officers learned that Cole committed the arson by dumping accelerant from a pre-filled wine bottle in apparent retaliation for his sister reporting him to child protective services and causing him to lose custody of his children.
Residents were able to douse the arson fire before law enforcement arrived and police began searching for Cole.
Authorities subsequently located Cole’s white Dodge Ram truck parked in the 17900 block of Brookhurst Street and initiated surveillance.
At around 10:00 PM, Cole entered his Dodge truck and left the area while marked police vehicles attempted to catch up. Apparently realizing he was being chased, Cole fled at high-speeds prompting a pursuit.
The pursuit ended quickly when Cole ran a red light at the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street, striking a white BMW X3 occupied by three friends.
One of the occupants of the BMW, identified as 25-year-old Hong Ngoc, was pronounced deceased as she was being rushed to hospital. Authorities said she was a Vietnamese exchange student.
Two other occupants of the BMW sustained serious injuries but were later released from a hospital.
All three occupants of the BMW were reportedly friends who attended elementary school in Vietnam.
Cole was arrested after being treated at a nearby hospital. He was charged with single felony counts each of single of murder and evading a peace officer causing death, along with two counts of evading a peace officer causing serious bodily injury and a count of arson of an inhabited structure.
Prosecutors say Cole is a documented white supremacist gang member who has been previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, attempting to dissuade a witness by force, solicitation to commit a crime and a sentencing enhancement for gang activity.
