Story Created:
Jun 23, 2009 at 1:19 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 23, 2009 at 7:00 AM EST
MISHAWAKA — Two people were arrested Saturday at University Park Mall in two separate incidents involving indecent exposure.
The first was reported to police after a store security guard at J.C. Penney said he found a 16-year-old man attempting to steal women’s underwear from the store.
According to a police report, the 16-year-old was spotted picking out three pairs of women’s underwear and a pair of shorts before entering a fitting room. Police say the teen later left the room without the clothes.
Store security stopped the teen as he left the store and allegedly found one pair of underwear on him. The other two pairs, along with the shorts, were found in the dressing room. Police report that one of the pairs of underwear had bodily fluid on it.
Police say the teen — who is a convicted sex offender and was on weekend leave from the Family Children’s Center — admitted to masturbating in the dressing room.
The teen was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center and detained.
Five hours later, police were again called to the mall, this time after a 54-year-old Grand Rapids man allegedly exposed himself in the parking lot.
According to a police report, officers arrived at the mall to find the man wearing shoes and a shirt, but no pants. A Mishawaka police officer and two mall security officers said they watched the man as he stood outside of a blue Kia Sedona minivan and masturbated.
Police approached the man and found his pants in the back seat of the minivan. Inside the pants, police reported finding a bottle that contained illegal prescription medicine, which the man claimed was for foot pain.
Police arrested the man, accusing him of indecent exposure and for drug possession violations and took him to the St. Joseph County Jail, where he remained Monday.
Staff writer Dave Stephens:
dstephens@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6209
