Person of Interest Sought in Costa Mesa Mall Attack

COSTA MESA, CA--Police today sought the public's help in identifyinga male suspected of sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman in the parking lotof the South Coast Plaza shopping center in Costa Mesa.

Investigators responded about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to the mall at 3333 S.Bristol St. and learned that the suspect, believed to be 17 to 22 years old,followed the victim to her vehicle and sexually assaulted her, according to Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman.

''The male fled on foot prior to police arriving on scene,'' Beckman said.

The suspect, who was captured on security video, is 5-feet-8 inches talland has short dark hair and a thin build. He was wearing a dark blue shirtand shorts, gray shoes and a dark blue baseball cap with a white logo on thefront.

Anyone with information that could help investigators identify andlocate the suspect was urged to call Costa Mesa police Detective BrianHernandez at (714) 754-5120