Wanted man turns self in
He was sought for questioning on assault in Costa Mesa mall lot.
A man wanted for questioning in connection with a reported sexual assault in a Costa Mesa mall parking lot turned himself over to police Thursday morning.
The 20-year-old man, whose name has not been released, came to Santa Ana police in the early morning hours after an acquaintance told him that his picture was on social media. Santa Ana police, in turn, notified Costa Mesa authorities, who were looking to question him.
“He checked social media and decided to turn himself in to police,” Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman said in a news release. “At this time, no arrest has been made.”
Police say they were called to the South Coast Plaza shopping center at 3333 S. Bristol St. about 5:45 p.m. Aug. 2. A 24-year-old woman reported that a man had followed her to her car and began forcibly touching her. She was able to fight off the assailant, and she was not injured, police said.
After the incident, authorities circulated a physical description along with security camera footage of the attacker. The images showed a slim man wearing a dark blue shirt, blue shorts and a blue hat. Police described him as being about 5 feet 8 with short dark hair.
Police said the assailant may have tried to approach other women in the parking lot.
Costa Mesa police interviewed the man wanted for questioning on Thursday, and “detectives are continuing to follow up on the investigation,” Beckman said.
The case is expected to be presented to the Orange County district attorney within the next few days, Beckman said.