Man wanted in five cities for attacking women

Marisa O’Neil

Local police are looking for a man connected to 40 attacks on women

in five Orange County cities, including Costa Mesa.

Irvine police announced on Friday that they are seeking

27-year-old Alvaro Flores, also known as Olivares Flores, in a series

of attacks in the city. In the attacks, the suspect has approached

women wearing skirts and attempted to remove their underwear.

“We don’t have an arrest warrant for him, but we are interested in

speaking with him,” Irvine Police Lt. Mike Hamel said. “We are

actively looking for him and [police] agencies are working together

in an effort to find him.”

Santa Ana police have issued a warrant for Flores in connection

with attacks in that city, he said.

The attacks under investigation occurred between December 2000 and

March 2004 in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Santa

Ana, but most have been in Irvine, Hamel said.

The three Costa Mesa attacks took place in October between the

intersections of Harbor Boulevard and Merrimac Way and Harbor

Boulevard and Peterson Place, Costa Mesa Police Lt. John FitzPatrick

said. In those attacks, he said, the suspect appeared to target women

with blond hair.

On Wednesday evening, the suspect approached a woman from behind

and knocked her over in an apartment complex near University and

Michelson drives, according to Irvine police. He forcefully removed

her underwear and fled on foot.

Police said he strikes during the morning and evening hours in

apartment complex carports and footpaths.

He seems to target women wearing skirts or dresses, particularly

those carrying laundry or groceries.

Flores is a Latino male, 5 feet 4 inches, 130 pounds, with brown

hair and eyes. His last known residence was on Cameron Street in

Huntington Beach.

Anyone with any information should contact Irvine Police at (949)

724-7177.