Watch Out for Serial Flasher Near Long Beach Schools

A man has exposed himself to several Long Beach girls right before and after school in several locations since spring, and police are alerting the public as back to school approaches Sept. 5.

Since May, when Long Beach Unified School District schools were still in session, a man has pulled up a car to girls of middle or high school age as they stood on a curb near campus, police said Tuesday. The last incident occurred June 1, days before the LBUSD 2011-12 school year ended.

The incidents happened about 7:30 a.m. or about 3:30 p.m., typical school start and end times, Long Beach Police Department announced. The man asked the girls for directions, and when they leaned down to talk with him, the man exposed his genitals, said police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt.

There have been six known indecent exposure encounters, three of which were on the same day, May 31, but detectives suspect there are more cases that went unreported.

The police department did not alert the public earlier, Pratt said, because officers were following up on leads and did not want to risk compromising the investigation.

"With Long Beach schools back in session next week, Wednesday, September 5th, Long Beach police would like to remind students and their parents to pay attention to who and what is going on around them," Pratt wrote in a news release, "and to report any suspicious persons or activity immediately by calling 9-1-1."

The suspect description and incident details from the release are as follows:

White or Hispanic, 20 to 40 years-old, 5’8" to 5’10” and approximately 160 lbs with black hair, and was seen wearing a hooded sweater with blue jeans in some of the incidents.  

Older model 4-door black sedan with a boxy style, possibly a Honda Accord, with black and silver rims with a red or pinkish color on the rims or tires. 

Date:               Time:              Location:

5/17/12            7:30 a.m.      12th Street & Pacific Avenue
5/30/12            3:30 p.m.      6500 Atlantic Avenue
5/31/12            7:15 a.m.      Atlantic Avenue & Del Amo Boulevard
5/31/12            7:30 a.m.      Broadway & Redondo Avenue          
5/31/12            8:30 a.m.      5th Street & Bonito Avenue
6/1/12              3:30 p.m.      Butler Street & Artesia Boulevard

"Anyone," the release said, "that has also been a victim that has not reported the incident to police or recognizes the suspect and/or vehicle description is asked to contact Long Beach Police Department’s Sex Crimes Detective Louis Galvan at (562) 570-7368.  Anonymous tips can be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.

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