SMPD Arrests Man Suspected of Masturbating in Front of Minors

Police have arrested a man suspected of performing lewd acts in the presence of teenage girls in San Mateo on at least two separate occasions in recent weeks, it was announced Monday.

According to police, the suspect was seen engaged in acts of apparent masturbation on two instances, and may be connected to a third.

The first instance occurred on Sept. 11, at about 8 a.m., when a 15-year-old girl walking on Delaware Street, just north of San Mateo High School, reported being followed by a Hispanic man driving a white 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. The driver apparently made eye contact with the girl and appeared to be masturbating, police said.

Officers were notified of the incident and conducted an extensive search of the area, but were unable to locate the suspect and the suspect vehicle.

Just after 7:30 a.m. on Friday a man matching the same description was reported masturbating in a vehicle that also matched the same description, while parked in the Woodlake Shopping Center, about a block north of San Mateo High School, police said.

Then, later that same day, a police officer spotted a vehicle that matched the description in both cases— parked in a lot near the police station.

“The officer moved quickly to investigate further and contacted the driver of the vehicle who had coincidentally come to SMPD for an unrelated matter,” a police statement released Monday said.

The victims in the two above cases were called into the station, and identified the man as the same one they saw performing the lewd acts, according to police. 32-year-old Belsasar Quiran was arrested on site in connection to the two cases.

“In addition, SMPD Detectives are diligently working to confirm his alleged involvement in a third incident of similar conduct reported on September 19 at about 7:45 p.m. near the San Mateo Downtown Cal Train Station where a male was reportedly seen masturbating in the area,” police added.

Here’s more from police:

SMPD wishes to thank the undaunted and courageous efforts of the victims in this case who made the conscious effort to come forward for the betterment of our community and it was through their commitment that SMPD was able to arrest the perpetrator of these lewd acts. SMPD fully investigates all incidents of lewd activity and indecent exposure because, although such acts may a first glance seem harmless, these crimes can be indicative of the perpetrator’s potential willingness to commit more serious crimes in the future. SMPD is again thankful that the victims in this case willfully served as our “eyes and ears” and allowed the perpetrator to be located, identified, and arrested for his crimes.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.