Police question man in connection with reported sex assault in Costa Mesa

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 Thursday morning. “At this time, no arrest has been made.”

Police say they were called to South Coast Plaza shopping center, located at 3333 S. Bristol St., at about 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 2. A 24-year-old female reported that a man had followed her to her car and began forcibly touching her. The woman was able to fight off the man, and she was not injured, police said.

Following the incident, authorities circulated a physical description along with security camera footage of the suspected 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-foot-8 with short dark hair.

Police said the suspect may have tried to approach other women in the parking lot.

“Costa Mesa police interviewed him, 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.