Man arrested in parking lot

A Newport Beach man was arrested Saturday in the parking lot of a Costa Mesa grocery store on suspicion of exposing himself while masturbating in his car, police said.

Albert Pacheco Araya, 46, is believed to be responsible for several similar acts in the same parking lot, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

People allegedly saw Araya in his car at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday in the parking lot of Mother’s Market at 241 E. 17th Street. Araya was arrested Saturday and booked at Costa Mesa city jail; he is being held on $50,000 bail, Birney said.

Araya also had an outstanding warrant for indecent exposure from the Orange Police Department, Birney said.

Since January, there have been several reports of a man doing similar acts inside a vehicle with a description matching Araya’s car, Birney said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Costa Mesa police detectives at (714) 754-5313.