Winchester Man Accused Of Masturbating, Grabbing Teen, In Department Store

A man was arrested Monday afternoon, accused of masturbating in a department store and grabbing a teenage girl, a Hemet police lieutenant said.

Police dispatch received a call about a male masturbating inside the store in the 1200 block of South Sanderson Avenue, Hemet police Lt. Eric Dickson said in a statement.
"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," Dickson said.

A short time later dispatch began receiving calls that the suspect was walking in the parking lot and then into the street, where he was reportedly blocking traffic, Dickson said.

"Ultimately the suspect returned to the store where he grabbed a teenage girl and pulled her toward him," Dickson said. "The girl fled the scene and the suspect was detained by an alert citizen."

Hemet police arrived and took the suspect into custody, Dickson said. The girl was not harmed.

The arrested man was identified as Grant Pittman, 22, of Winchester. He was booked on suspicion of sexual battery, indecent exposure, and annoying/molesting someone under 18 years of age, Dickson said.

Pittman's bail was set at $25,000, Dickson said. He did not show up Monday night in county inmate records. --By Guy McCarthy