He looked like a jogger out for an afternoon run, but several San Diego women have told police he groped them and exposed his genitals.
The women posted photos and videos of the man on social media, and other women claimed he’s the same man who victimized them.
San Diego police said that they’ve identified him and that he’s now in jail. Erik Altamirano, 31, was arrested Monday and charged with two felony counts of assault with the intent to commit rape.
His bail was set at $100,000, but just before his scheduled arraignment Thursday, it was learned the District Attorney had referred the case to the San Diego City Attorney for possible misdemeanor charges.
NBC 7 spoke to two of the victims who said they were disappointed to hear about the reduced charges but happy that he was arrested.
“He lunged at me and grabbed my bottom, and he squeezed it really hard,” said a Pacific Beach woman who wanted to be called “Katie.”
After the attack, Katie called the San Diego Police Department, who took a report and drove her home. Katie later decided to do some investigating of her own. She went to the alley where the man assaulted her and began asking people with security cameras if she could review their video.
Her efforts were successful. She found clear video clips of the man who wore a blue shirt and dark shorts.
Katie told NBC 7 that after she posted the videos on social media and plastered the neighborhood with flyers showing the man’s image, several other women contacted her to say they had been victimized by him, too.
SDPD confirm Altamirano has been linked to multiple cases involving similar circumstances across the city. Their investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the assaults or who is a victim of them is urged to call the police department.