Four witnesses reported to authorities that their neighbor on Westlee Lane in Palm Coast had exposed himself in his garage, stared at some of them and masturbated. The 77-year-old resident of 50 Westlee Lane is facing a charge of exhibitionism following an investigation that had started with allegations of lewd and lascivious exhibitionism.
The lone resident of the house on Westlee has owned the property for less than two years. A complaint originated from a house on Westland Place, which intersects with Westlee. Two residents on May 3 told a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy that they were outside on their lawn when they witnessed the 77 year old in his garage, in his solitary act, but looking at them. He did so on and off for 30 minutes, they said.
As the sheriff was speaking with the two witnesses, two more walked over and describe closely similar scenes, although one woman described the man as running off and hiding behind his car as she turned onto Westland Place.
One of the witnesses took a picture of the man in the act and emailed it to the deputy. “In the photo,” the deputy reported, “you are able to see a white male nude, standing next to a silver in color Chevy car. As he was standing next to his vehicle, it appeared as though his hands were covering his penis.”
When two deputies visited the elderly man on Westlee and read him his Miranda rights, he consented to speaking with them, but the second time the deputies read him his rights–he was somewhat hard of hearing and had asked for his rights to be read again–he “stated that he didn’t know what we were trying to pull, but he was not guilty of anything,” the deputies reported.
When told that four of his neighbors had reported seeing him naked and touching himself while staring at them, the man denied it, said he’d been wearing swimming trunks–something he said he did all the time–and that he’d been working on his car in his garage. He then ended the interview, again saying he was innocent and “didn’t want any part of this.”
Deputies concluded, based on the evidence, that the man had exposed himself and charged him with indecent exposure–a first-degree misdemeanor. Had the charge involved lewd and lascivious exhibitionism, it would have been a felony. The man was not arrested. charges were forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office.
Ashley says
80 yr old man had a lapse in judgement – may or may not have touched himself in his own garage – and the neighbors, who know he’s elderly, film and stare at him for half an hour? Did anyone consider that this man might have dementia or have problems with his eyesight? The police should’ve privately spoken with him AND the neighbors (who are also in the wrong, as far as I’m concerned) and left it at that. This doesn’t need to be a public posting with the man’s home address. Ridiculous!
MannyHM says
Clearly a disinhibited behavior. He needs formal medical evaluation. With 4 witnesses and a picture to attest to it, this guy’s behavioral brakes are faulty.
Brian says
He also owns a house around the corner on Wankland Court.
Richard says
Could it be the onset of Alzheimer’s? Palm Coast seems to have the “choice” residents living throughout the community. LOL
PCOG says
What a jerk off.
Jeff says
The old man exposed his shortcomings to his neighbors.
Algonquin J. Calhoun says
Boston had a strangler, Palm Coast has a dangler.
Mark says
So, was he covering up or masturbating? Or maybe just scratching? Maybe he was trolling. Maybe his house is a nudist colony. Testing his Viagra? 77, life I say!
Outsider says
He shouldn’t bother hiring a lawyer. He’s already proven he can get himself off.
palmcoaster says
Where these pervert elderly’s come to Palm Coast we have two of those in our Palm Cost C section one 87 years old came from NY who’s house was raided lately in Coolidge Ct water front, the other his friend in Palm Harbor conveniently located close to Palm Coast Parkway fast escape route for his dealers from law enforcement. As the public record shows both bail out prostitutes and young drug addicts, give them residence at their homes and transportation and while describing them as their “care takers”. Meanwhile the drug trafficking and prostitution starts day and night including armed menacing visitors and all of this taking place next door to working families with school age children and elderly. The two here not exhibitionist but worst.
Jenn says
Why was he arrested????
gmath55 says
What happens in your garage stays in your garage. LOL I thought it was private property. Oh, I see it’s private party.
Anonymous says
This man needs a medical and/or mental health evaluation. I feel increasingly anxious for the safety of Floridians when I read about the funding for addictions and mental health treatment programs being cut. Are we waiting for terrible things to happen so that public outrage and outcry forces the pendeluum to swing back the other way?
Jenn says
Here we go again with the BS from people from New York drop it already stop trying to play that card it’s ridiculous.
Concerned Citizen says
Why is the mental health card always played? There’s always an excuse for this type of behavior. Could it be that he’s just a nasty old man that thinks it’s OK to show his stuff in public?
There are consequences for acting like this in public. He should have been arrested and put in jail even if it’s just a warning.
Has anyone looked to see what the sexual offender/ predator count is in Flagler County lately? They come in all ages and a lot move here from out of state to continue acting that way.
woody says
Everybody take a deep breath,it’s Palm Coast remember?
Brian Smith says
Lets see the picture, this could be disgruntled neighbors trying to cause trouble. Or simply a man with mental issues.
Anonymous says
Why are neighbors looking in others garages???? Keep noses in yo own business. This man was in his private home, what he does there with the windows or doors open is his business. Only in Com Post.
MannyHM says
In a psychiatric hospital, this type of behavior is not rare. Staff will just tell the patient to do it privately. Of course having Alzheimer’s, such reminders have to be repeated a lot.
Concerned Neighbor says
I live near this road and witnessed this unfold- the witnesses wernt “staring” into his Garage, he was standing at the end of his garage in his driveway in public for all people to see. This man by no means was being discreet or minding his own business. It was distracting and caught me off guard to even drive by while coming home from the store with my children. Several neighbors asked him to go inside and he ignored it all- after people trying to ask him to do this privately, the cops finally had to be called. He wasn’t arrested, police cant do anything unless they witness someone doing it in the act.If you read the article it states that charges were sent to the state attorneys office for evaluation which is probably why a picture was taken for evidence. Mental illness or not- had this been a small child that witnessed it i bet you all wouldn’t be saying “look the other way”. There are a lot of sick people in this world, God only knows what this man is capable of or is doing behind closed doors or had done in the past. I commend the neighbors that reported it, they did the right thing and i thanked them for protecting our neighborhood and our young children.
AnonPC says
I think he was having a hard day and just wanted to relax.
concerned citizen says
Thank you, Concerned Neighbor, for your post. The comments were getting out of control. Regardless of a medical condition, authorities needed to be called or he would continue doing it. Now that the State Attorney’s office has the information, perhaps they can get a medical evaluation for him and find out if there is something at the root of this behavior or if he’s a sick individual.
David S. says
Attention K-Mart shoppers
Daphne says
Sick.
MannyHM says
I wonder if this behavior could be covered by the Baker’s Act ?
The Geode says
If your “children” are disturbed by seeing genitalia, perhaps you should teach them to always wear underwear when showering and close their eyes while wiping…
Anonymous says
Ignoring such behavior is not an option. You don’t know if the offender might take that as an invitation to get even more blatant–and potentially violent. And anyone who might know someone like this and feel “defensive”, you are not being protective by advocating that others should just “get over it” or “mind their own business.” Florida is “stand your ground” state. Someone who takes such actions as a threat might end up taking care of it in a way that THEY feel is justified. Sadly, disinhibition is a symptom of many Brain Disorders and can be complicated by a concurrent addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Anonymous says
Another- You don’t prosecute one on assumptions and what ifs. The man was on his property, in his garage and very old so he most likely has dementia. Had neighbors had their nose in their business and in their garage (which probably needed cleaning) this would all be a non issue. The man told the cops he had done nothing wrong and he didn’t want to be part of what they claimed so he either didn’t do it or was too old to know what he was doing. What the hell, kids have sex at 8 years old in the schools and every where else so it wasn’t like they would have been surprised. Most girls now a days walk around in public half naked and give it away. Get real and leave the old man alone.
Anonymous says
..Spoken like someone who has no understanding or compassion for what many who have been victims of sexual abuse and trauma have to go through–especially children.