Police looking for suspects they say tried to tie up teen

COSTA MESA — Police are searching for two men who attacked and tried to tie up a teenage girl at TeWinkle Park over the weekend.

Costa Mesa authorities provided little description of the men, saying they were from 19 to their early 20s, and were at TeWinkle Park off Arlington Drive about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

About that time, a 17-year-old girl was walking through the park on her way home when the two men grabbed her, said Sgt. Phil Myers. She tried to get away and tried to call her mom on her cell phone, but the men wrestled her to the ground, Myers said.

The suspects took off the girl’s shoelaces — police believe the men wanted to tie her up — when they saw another person in the area and ran away.

Police responded to the area but were unable to find the men. Officials said it was unclear if the girl was targeted deliberately or at random.

—Joseph Serna