Police find parolee in garage after search

Costa Mesa police and state parole officers found a parolee in a garage after about three hours of searching, authorities said.

The search began about 12:20 p.m. Thursday in the 2500 block of Carnegie Avenue in Costa Mesa after the man’s parole agent contacted him at the home and he fled, police said.

One resident said a helicopter was used in looking for the suspect. Another saw an ambulance and fire trucks. Battalion Chief William Kershaw said the Fire Department was there on stand by.

The search ended about 3:30 p.m., according to police Lt. Mark Manley after the man surrendered to police.

The parolee Justin Scotia, 35, of Huntington Beach was found hiding in the garage of a house with his girlfriend and was apparently laying low to evade police, Manley said.

Scotia was arrested on suspicion of violating his parole, and there were some warrants for his arrest.

Court records show a man named Justin Scotia who was born the same month and year as the suspect was a fugitive with a warrant for a felony burglary case.

In that case, the man pleaded guilty to nine felonies including grand theft, unlawful taking of a vehicle, unauthorized use of personal identifying information and possession of a forged license, with sentencing enhancements for committing an offense while released from custody.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30