Man suspected of being Peeping Tom

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Wednesday after reportedly looking inside a woman’s home and masturbating, police said.

Epigmenio Nieto, 22, was arrested before 1 a.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of Governor Street in Costa Mesa on suspicion of peeping into neighbor’s homes

Just after midnight, a homeowner on Governor Street noticed Nieto peering into windows in a nearby home and touching himself, police said. The witness called police and went out to confront Nieto, who ran off, said Sgt. Bryan Glass. Nieto soon returned, Glass said, and this time the neighbor and another man detained him until police arrived.

Nieto was also carrying drugs, Glass said. Police booked Nieto on suspicion of peeping, indecent exposure, loitering on private property and possession of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to appear in court today.

— Joseph Serna