Walmart Customer Accosted By Flasher, Joliet Police Make Arrest In Nearby Village

JOLIET — A 37-year-old Romeoville man traveled to Joliet's Walmart on West Jefferson Street, where he exposed his private parts to a woman inside the store, according to Joliet police arrest reports.

Joliet police arrested Eric Watkins and released him on a notice to appear for the crime of public indecency. Public indecency is not a detainable crime in Illinois under the SAFE-T-Act.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 10:23 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the Walmart at 2424 W. Jefferson St. for a public indecency complaint.

English said officers learned that a female customer was approached by a man, later identified as Watkins, who asked her if she would assist him with shopping for items. At one point, police said that as the woman retrieved an item from the shelf at the request of the man, she saw he had his genitalia exposed.

The victim then walked away and notified Walmart staff, who contacted the Joliet Police Department. Watkins left the store and fled the area in a vehicle, English said.

The registration of the vehicle was ascertained as Watkins left, and police learned he possibly lived in Romeoville. A short time later, officers with the Romeoville Police Department located Watkins at his residence, police said.

Joliet officers traveled to Romeoville and placed Watkins into custody without incident.