Man Arrested For Masturbating, Grabbing Girl In Hemet Department Store

HEMET (CBSLA.com) — A 22-year-old Winchester man was under arrest Tuesday for masturbating at a department store and grabbing a teenage girl.

Grant Pittman is facing charges of sexual battery, indecent exposure and annoying/molesting someone less than 18 years of age.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, Hemet police received a call about a male suspect masturbating inside a department store in the 1200 block of S. Sanderson Avenue, officials said.

"The first reporting party was able to provide a very good description of the suspect to the dispatcher and advised that the suspect had already left the store," Lt. Eric Dickson said.

Shortly after the first call, police were contacted again about the same suspect blocking traffic in a nearby street.

"Ultimately the suspect returned to the store where he grabbed a teenage girl and pulled her toward him," Lt. Dickson said.

The girl, who was unharmed, was able to free herself and Pittman was detained by an alert citizen, police said.

Pittman is being held on $25,000 bail and will make his first court appearance Thursday.