Costa Mesa parolee suspected of shooting out car windows with BB gun

Police arrested a 21-year-old man who they believe shot out more than a dozen car windows with a BB gun while driving intoxicated around a Costa Mesa neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Around 5 p.m., police responded to an area near Mission and El Camino drives after someone reported following a vandalism suspect driving a black Lincoln Town Car, according to Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott.

Officers found a BB gun in the Lincoln and determined that the driver had shot out the windows of at least 17 cars, police said.

Police arrested Nicholas French of Costa Mesa on suspicion of felony vandalism and driving under the influence, Scott said.

French is on parole, according to police, who did not specify his previous offense. He is being held in Orange County Jail without bail, Scott said.

French is due in court Friday.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck