A rash of indecent exposure incidents that ranged from the Santa Cruz Mountains to South County are likely linked, police said Tuesday.
Watsonville police Sgt. Saul Gonzalez said the man involved has not touched anyone at this point. He has been spotted masturbating in front of teenage girls and women for about a month.
When asked if investigators had any leads, Gonzalez replied, “unfortunately not, no.”
The first incident happened in Scotts Valley on Sept. 14, a Friday, when a 15-year-old girl was walking on Estrella Drive at Caliente Drive. As the girl walked past the driver’s side of the car, a man opened the door and she saw he was masturbating, police there reported.
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, a man in Scotts Valley asked a young girl if she wanted to get into a car with him. She declined and was not harmed. Scotts Valley police stated they believe the incident was related to the earlier indecent exposure.
On Friday, a man pulled over near Oliveria Loop and Chappell Road, and exposed himself to two teenage girls and a woman who were nearby.
Saturday, a man driving a beat-up old Honda sedan followed two 16-year-old girls walking in the Seascape neighborhood. When he pulled into a business parking lot, the girls saw that he was masturbating, according to sheriff's deputy April Skalland.
He didn’t say anything to them, according to Skalland.
Scotts Valley Police released a sketch of the suspect. Watsonville and Sheriff's Office investigators hope to have their own sketches later Wednesday or Thursday.
The Watsonville victims described him as a white male in his late 20's to early 30's, with blonde or light brown hair and a beard and was described as being chubby. He was last seen driving a stock 2006 - 2008 black Toyota Camry or Corolla four door with a gold metal embalm and a possible partial California license plate number: 5K_ _ _ _ _, Watsonville police said.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department Crime Tip line at (831) 728-3544, the WPD Investigation Bureau at (832) 768-3352, the SVPD at 831-440-5670, the anonymous tip line at 831-438-8090, or email tipline@scottsvalley.org
