Salinas woman flashed and groped while on walk

At around 5 p.m. Monday, a Salinas woman was out for a walk when a man ran up to her and pulled down his pants.

The woman saw the suspect, who she described as a young Hispanic man, a few blocks away but thought he was just out for a jog. Then he ran up to her, covered his face, and pulled down his pants while running into her and grabbed her breast.

It happened in the Creekbridge neighborhood on Nantucket and Constitution boulevards.

“He was kind of lanky. Dark hair, medium length,” the victim said. “His hoodie was navy blue and it was one that zipped up a lot in the front with a white zipper. Dark gray joggers.”

The victim says she normally feels safe walking around the neighborhood and KION spoke with neighbors out for a walk Monday evening, who feel the same way.

“Today we have to be alert and wise, but, yeah, it’s usually pretty OK,” Salinas resident Beth Mendoza said.

Mendoza and her walking partners are always aware of their surroundings when out for a walk.

“We like to always stay together, we stay where there’s lights, you just want to be seen by cars and other people,” Mendoza said.

Police are still looking for the man who groped and exposed himself to the Salinas woman.

KION’s Drew Andre will have more at 5 and 6 p.m.