CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Police arrested a 32-year-old Richmond man for a series of indecent exposures in Chesterfield County. The addresses are spread throughout central Chesterfield County: on Clover Tree Court, on Huguenot Road, then at two businesses off Midlothian Turnpike, and then finally at Commonwealth Center.
The Richmond man turned himself in Monday, according to Chesterfield Police. He was charged with sexual display: masturbation, actual/simulated connected to a Feb. 7 incident.
That day a woman told police she saw a man masturbating in his vehicle parked at Commonwealth Center along the 4700 block of Commonwealth Centre Parkway near Hull Street Rd. in Midlothian.
“The victim provided police with a description of the suspect vehicle and a license plate number, which led investigators to [the man],” Chesterfield Police said.
“It makes me feel a lot safer that he’s been captured,” said Pam Southard, who was shopping off Midlothian Turnpike Wednesday. “I mean, imagine explaining that type of thing to my granddaughters. It would be pretty upsetting.”
Police say their big break in the case came two weeks ago, after a woman shopping at Commonwealth Center got a good description of the man, and the car he was driving, including his license plate.
Psychologist Alan Entin says the latest victim helped crack the case, when she did just that. “You gotta’ keep cool, don’t freeze,” Entin said. “Keep your wits about you. Get the license plate, get the description of the car. It’s great info to help police.”
Police say [the man] was showing his genitals in parking lots, and that he never made any movement toward the females that saw him.
Still, experts say one way to stop a flasher is to poke fun at him. “Humiliate him and it stomps him down,” Entin said. “When you respond with shock, it gives him credibility and power.”
Chesterfield Police have sent out [the man’s] arrest information to other jurisdictions to see if he matches other cases.
Police say there are likely other victims out there who may have come across him but were too embarrassed to call 911.
Police are asking those people to call Crimesolvers at 748-0660.
- Jan. 14 along the 8100 block of Clovertree Court
- Jan. 20 along the 1200 block of Huguenot Road
- Jan. 21 along the 9700 block of Midlothian Turnpike
- Feb. 4 along the 11400 block of Midlothian Turnpike
[The man]is being held at the Chesterfield County Jail without bond.
