LONG BEACH (CNS) - A Long Beach man was in custody today on suspicion of crimes including indecent exposure, and police urged other possible victims to contact detectives.
David Leon Lopez, 34, was arrested Wednesday and booked on suspicion of lewd acts and indecent exposure and was held on $75,000 bail, according to the Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
“On May 10, 2020, a social media post of an exposure incident was reported to detectives who immediately began investigating the incident,'' police said in a statement. “Through follow-up investigation, victim evidence and the information obtained from the social media post, detectives were able to connect the suspect's vehicle to ... other incidents in the city of Long Beach.''
Here are incidents police believe Lopez is connected to:
-- On October 1, 2019, officers were dispatched to the area of Wardlow Road and Golden Avenue on a report of a man masturbating in his car. The vehicle was gone upon officers' arrival.
-- Also on October 1, 2019, a 17-year-old girl and a 21-year-old woman reported they were walking near Harding Street and Atlantic Avenue when they saw a suspect in his vehicle masturbating and following them. The vehicle was not located by officers that day.
-- On May 25, 2020, officers were dispatched to the area of Spring Street and Studebaker Road regarding a suspect masturbating in his vehicle. A woman reported being outside her residence when the suspect drove up.
-- On July 9, 2020, police received a report of a suspect exposing himself in a vehicle while following a 15-year-old girl near Atherton Street and Palo Verde Avenue.
-- And on August 2, 2020, a woman walking near Palo Verde Avenue and Spring Street reported being followed by a suspect matching the previous incidents' description.
“Detectives believe Lopez frequently drove in and around the city of Long Beach since October of 2019, and there may be other victims who can come forward with additional information,'' police said in a statement.
The suspect is believed to have been driving a silver 2018 Ford Mustang with California license plate #8GFE158.
Anyone with information on the case or who may have been victimized by the suspect was urged to call police at 562-570-5550. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS.
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