Crime & Safety
Man Wanted for Masturbating in Barnes and Noble
Police say there have been three documented lewd instances since June, and this man is wanted in connection to one on Tuesday.
Police are working to identify an older white man with curly "grayish" hair who knelt down beside a woman in Barnes and Noble on Tuesday and began masturbating, according to Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten.
Patten said the woman was reading on the 125 South Broadway store's floor at about 7 p.m. Tuesday when the man, shown in the images above wearing tan shorts and a long-sleeve shirt, approached her and exposed himself.
The woman "threw her book on the shelf and ran to find an employee," although the man "immediately fled the store" in an unknown direction, according to Patten.
Police are asking the public for help in identifying the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Robert Genest at (603) 890-2381.
The department is currently investigating several incidents of indecent exposure and lewd activity at the Barnes and Noble store. Patten said there have been three documented incidents since June, and that detectives believe those incidents involved three different suspects.
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