IRVINE — Police arrested a 26-year-old man Sunday on suspicion of felony sexual battery after a woman reported she was assaulted in an elevator.

Rafael Cortez of Los Angeles was arrested at his residence without incident and transferred to the Orange County jail, where he was booked on suspicion of felony sexual battery, assault and battery and false imprisonment.

The alleged sexual assault happened on June 25 at an Extra Storage at 17 Shield, according to Irvine police.

The victim told police she was waiting for the elevator and when the doors opened, two men walked out. However, one of the men reentered the elevator after she got in.

The victim said Cortez allegedly reached out his arm to fondle her chest. She pushed him away and told him to stop, police said. He then allegedly became aggressive and tried to grab her chest and she fought him off. He then allegedly punched her multiple times.

She finally managed to escape the elevator and get away from him on the first floor of the facility. The suspect then ran off and got into a moving truck, according to police.

Cortez was employed by a moving company that was present at the facility on the day of the alleged assault.

Anyone with information on the assault was asked to call Irvine police Detective Mudassar Mahmood at 949-724-7244.

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