Flock Cameras Used To Find Man Who Exposed Himself Near Oak Lawn Elementary School: Police

OAK LAWN, IL—A 49-year-old man is facing a felony charge after police said he was observed exposing himself near an Oak Lawn elementary school.

Around 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Oak Lawn police responded to Hannum Elementary School, 9800 S. Tripp Ave., for a report of indecent exposure. Officers spoke to a woman, who said she was walking her dog when she was approached by a man driving a gray SUV.

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The driver, described as a man in his 50s, with short white hair, clean-shaven, wearing a black top and black pants, asked to pet her dog and pulled into the north parking lot of the school.

When she approached the SUV, the man, later identified as Oak Lawn resident John Schlosser, was exposing his penis, police said. She immediately walked away and called 911.

Officers spread out through the neighborhood speaking to residents, who noted a similar vehicle that appeared to be operating without doors, police said.

Teachers, students and community members were still present on school grounds for afterschool activities at the time of the incident. Oak Lawn officers and detectives notified school staff and were able to determine that no students or teachers had witnessed the act.

Investigators reviewed available school security footage and utilized Flock license plate readers in the area to assist in identifying a suspect vehicle. Through follow-up investigation, officers and detectives developed a suspect, Schlosser, whom police said the woman later positively identified.

Schlosser was taken into custody on Wednesday. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved one Class 4 felony charge of public indecency, exposure within 500 feet of an elementary school. Schlosser was cited and released, pending a detention hearing scheduled Friday at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

"The Oak Lawn Police Department thanks the witnesses who came forward with information, which played a critical role in the swift identification and arrest of the offender," police said in a news release.