Man, 50, Arrested After Exposing Himself To Girl, 13, Then Following Her On Another Day: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man was arrested after exposing himself to a girl, 13, and then, following and approaching her on another, unrelated day, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, on Friday at about 3 p.m., authorities were alerted to a "suspicious male" on Osborn Avenue, in the vicinity of Pulaski Street in Riverhead.

A 13-year-old girl reported walking south on Osborn Avenue after having left school for the day, police said. As she was walking, a man driving a dark-colored SUV appeared to be following her, police said.

The man stopped the vehicle and positioned it in front of the girl; then, he exited the vehicle and began to approach her, police said.

The girl recognized the man as the same person she had encountered previously on December 4, after leaving school, police said.

The girl became nervous and approached a uniformed police officer who was nearby performing a school crossing, police said. She explained what had happened and she was immediately transported to the Riverhead Police Department, where she was met by her mother, police said.

An investigation into the matter was conducted by the Riverhead Police Department's detective division and during the course of that investigation, the girl disclosed that on December 4, while walking home from school, the same man had approached her on foot, police said.

During that incident, the man exposed his private parts to the girl and then left the area in a dark SUV; the girl had not previously reported the incident to anyone, police said.

The man was identified as Martin Cruz Vazquez, 50, of Riverhead, police said. At about 7 p.m., Cruz Vazquez was located at his residence, placed under arrest and transported to the Riverhead Police Department where he was processed on a charge of first-degree public lewdness, a class A misdemeanor, and endangering the welfare of a minor, a class A misdemeanor, police said.

Cruz Vazquez was held overnight for arraignment purposes, police said.

Anyone having information in reference to the matter, or if they have experienced a similar situation, is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.