Officers nab man accused of battery

Marisa O’Neil

Police arrested a Costa Mesa man Monday morning in connection with

two attempted sexual assaults in the city.

Joseph Anthony White, 19, is being held on $100,000 bail on

suspicion of two counts of felony sexual battery after two incidents

near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue, Costa

Mesa Police Sgt. Jack Archer said. The most recent attack happened at

about 6:20 a.m. Monday as a woman walked to her car in an apartment

complex in the 2700 block of Peterson Place.

“He approached the victim from behind,” Costa Mesa Police Sgt.

Marty Carver said. “She turned around and told him to get away, and

he pulled her behind a garage.”

The man managed to get her pantyhose off, but she escaped and

called police, Carver said.

Officers found White hiding nearby and arrested him, Archer said.

Police connected him to a second incident, which took place at

7:35 p.m. Oct. 18 in the parking lot of a shopping center across the

street from the complex.

“A female left a business, got to her car, opened the door and

felt someone come from behind and touch her leg,” Archer said. “She

screamed and the suspect ran off.”

The women in both incidents positively identified the same man,

Archer said. Police are investigating connections to other attacks.

They did not connect White with a series of groping attacks on

Victoria Street earlier this year.

The quiet street where the recent attacks occurred runs behind a

shopping center, parallel to Harbor Boulevard. A large, recently

renovated apartment complex runs along the east side of the street,

about half a block from Orange Coast College.

The complex is not gated but does have security guards, Archer

said. A property manager at the complex did not want to comment on

the incident.

A resident who was out walking her dog said she hadn’t heard about

the attack. It took her by surprise, she said, because it doesn’t

seem like a dangerous neighborhood.

“A lot of single women live here,” said the woman, who identified

herself only as Pamela. “If women were told about this, it would be

in their best interests.”

Though the man police believe is responsible for the attacks is in

custody, Archer said, people should always be aware of their

surroundings if walking alone.

“If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, go home and

give [police] a call, and we’ll come out,” he said.