Madman truck driver on the loose

Sheriff's deputies are looking for an unknown Santee man in connection with a recent sexual harassment, robbery, and assault case.

Last Friday afternoon (July 11), the male suspect, believed to be 40 to 50 years of age, pulled alongside an unidentified 18-year-old woman walking down Mesa Road in Santee and began shouting sexually charged comments out the window of his Ford Ranger pickup, described as white with purple stripes and a ladder rack.

The victim pulled out her phone to begin videotaping the suspect and approached the truck. The suspect grabbed her arm, pulling her partially into the truck, and began to drive. The victim was dragged for several feet before the truck stopped, throwing her to the ground. The suspect then threw the phone at her, striking the victim in the head, before driving off.

Authorities were able to recover several images from the phone, and are asking for help in identifying the man, believed to be a resident of the area near the intersection of Mesa Road and Prospect Avenue. A reward of up to $1000 is offered to tipsters calling CrimeStoppers at 888-580-8477.