Groping incident

Accused of groping women in Odessa and Midland apartment complexes during the past month, Jaime Lara Arenivas is getting a feel for jail - at least for the time being.

Arenivas was originally arrested Thursday in Odessa after he tried to grab the wrong gal at Sunchase Apartments.

According to police, the 34-year-old Midland man grabbed a 24-year-old woman's chest, punched her and then took off running at 6 a.m. Thursday. The victim chased and caught Arenivas and wrestled with him until Odessan Damond Love intervened to help the young woman.

The assailant got away and managed to hide in a balcony. The victim pointed his hiding place out to Odessa police when they arrived.

The 34-year-old Midland man is accused of sneaking behind women and grabbing their breasts in the early morning hours at Odessa and Midland apartment complexes.

Ector County Sgt. Debbie Bruce said Arenivas now sits in jail in Ector County.

"He has a $15,000 bond, but he's not going anywhere," Bruce said. "He has a warrant in Howard County and three in Midland County."

City of Midland public information officer Tina Jauz said Arenivas' three Midland Police Department warrants were in connection with eight separate assaults cases around Midland.

Bruce said Arenivas was also charged with assault and criminal trespass charges Thursday stemming from the assault at Sunchase Apartments.

Meanwhile, Odessa police Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said she wasn't certain if a Tuesday morning assault in the same Odessa apartment complex would be added to Arenivas' charges.

Carruth said the extra charge depends on a lineup of possible suspects.

"We're still looking into it," Carruth said. "I guess it all depends on if she identifies the man."

Jauz said she didn't know if or when Arenivas would be taken to the Midland County Detention Center.