Security Guard Allegedly Molests Woman

A security guard has been jailed for allegedly using his position of authority to sexually abuse a woman in the Target parking lot early Friday, the Watsonville Police Department reported.

Jose Moreno, 43, was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery later Friday, police reported.

The woman came to the Watsonville police station around 7 a.m. She said she had been napping in her vehicle in the shopping center parking lot after driving back into Watsonville from out of town and stopping at Del Taco for food. She paused to sleep because was too tired to drive home, police said.

She awoke around 3:45 a.m. to a man she perceived to be a police officer. He asked her for identification and if she had any drugs or weapons on her, according to police.

The woman told him she didn't have anything illegal but the man accused her of putting items down her pants. He tugged down her pants and underwear, police said.

The man then got the woman's phone number and allowed her to leave, she told police.

Detectives jumped on the case. Santa Cruz Peninsula Security patrols the Target property and Moreno was on duty at the time of the alleged attack, police reported. Detectives said he had the woman's phone number with him when he was arrested.