Long Beach police are looking for anyone else who may have been victimized by a man suspected of exposing himself and committing lewd acts in public near two elementary schools.
Police said the man was first reported to them around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. A woman reported that a man “was committing a lewd act while in standing in a public area” near Third Street and Coronado Avenue in the Bluff Heights area, police said in a statement. About an hour later, another report came in the same area, in an alley near a residence.
The following day at 7:30 a.m., police responded to another similar report in the area of Fourth Street and Dawson Avenue in the Retro Row area.
“Given the nature of the incidents, the proximity to nearby schools, and time of day the incidents occurred, increased patrols were immediately deployed to the surrounding areas to ensure the public’s safety and well-being, and Sex Crimes Detectives immediately began their investigation,” police said.
The incidents took place near Burbank and Mann elementary schools.
On Thursday a patrol officer noticed a man matching the description sent through an alert, and detectives arrested Long Beach resident Juan Manuel Ortiz, 38, on suspicion of public intoxication. Police later presented their case to the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office, and Ortiz has now also been charged with three counts of lewd conduct.
He is being held on $50,000 bail at the Long Beach City Jail.
Police encourage any other victims to contact them immediately by calling Det. Darlene Wigmore at 562-570-7368 or police dispatch at 562-435-6711. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
