Palo Alto Police Seek 'Pantless' Man Suspected Of Exposing Himself To Girls

PALO ALTO, CA -- Police in Palo Alto released a sketch of a man who is suspected of exposing himself to two girls this week as he allegedly drove "pantless" through Palo Alto neighboring.

Police say they learned of the first alleged indecent exposure incident at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, although it reportedly occurred at 4:40 p.m. that day. The incident involved a 12-year-old girl who was was walking her dog southbound on Newell Road, approaching North California Avenue, according to police.

"A man seated in the driver’s seat of a parked car called out to her as she passed, and asked her if she knew the location of 'the community swimming pool,'" police said. "She said she did not know and continued walking, but not before she noticed that the man was not wearing any pants or underwear, and was fondling his penis. The car then drove away northbound on Newell Road. The victim later told her parents about what happened, who in turn notified the police."

Police say they learned of a second alleged incident at 6:11 p.m. Wednesday, just 15 minutes after it occurred. In that incident, a 16-year-old girl was riding her bicycle westbound on Coleridge Avenue approaching Bryant Street when a vehicle drove up behind her and pulled alongside her, according to police.

"She saw that the driver was not wearing any pants or underwear, and was masturbating," police said. "He did not speak to her. He drove away northbound on Bryant Street."

The victims both described the suspect as a thin white male driving a newer-model, light-colored (possibly white or silver) sedan.

The older victim met with the police artist who produced the above sketch. The 16-year-old described the suspect as being in his 20s or 30s, police said.

Palo Alto police detectives are investigating the incidents, which includes looking to see if the alleged crimes may be connected to any others that have occurred in Palo Alto or surrounding cities.

Also, police said, officers have also stepped up patrols in neighborhoods as a result.

Anyone with information about either incident was asked to call Palo Alto Police Department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's smartphone app, which is can be downloaded from www.bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or www.bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

Image via Palo Alto police