A 21-year-old La Habra man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a series of sexual battery incidents against women over the past several months near Cal State Fullerton, police announced Wednesday.
In all of the incidents, reported between August 2014 and February 2015, the suspect was accused of groping the private parts of his victims and then running away, according to a news release from the Fullerton Police Department.
During their search for the unknown suspect, detectives spotted Jose Alfredo Gradilla-Cuevas driving a vehicle similar to one seen on a security video in the area of an earlier assault, the release stated.
Over the next several weeks, detectives watched Gradilla-Cuevas as he allegedly stalked dozens of potential victims in Fullerton, Placentia and La Habra, police said.
On Tuesday, detectives spotted Gradilla-Cuevas’ car driving slowing behind a woman as she walked eastbound along Nutwood Avenue approaching Placentia Avenue, according to the release.
Gradilla-Cuevas quickly parked, exited his vehicle and ran up behind the woman slapping her buttocks.
He immediately ran from the area but was detained and arrested.
Police believe there may be additional victims in the cities of Fullerton, Placentia, and La Habra.
Anyone with information about Gradilla-Cuevas or who thinks they may have been a victim was urged to contact Detective C. Wright of the Fullerton Police Department Family Crimes Unit at 714-738-6754.