Indecent exposure spurs inquiry
Detectives investigate incident reported near Towsley Canyon hiking trail in Newhall
The search is on for a man who exposed himself to a woman doing yoga exercises near the Towsley Canyon hiking trail last week.
On Thursday, May 16, around 4 p.m., a woman was exercising in a grassy area of Towsley Canyon, on the 24300 block of The Old Road in Newhall, according to sheriff’s officials.
“The victim reported that she was in an area near the Towsley Lodge,” Lt. Ignacio Somoano, who heads the Detective Bureau of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, said Monday afternoon.
The Towsley Lodge is at the other side of parking lots off The Old Road.
“She was exercising or participating in yoga, where she was laying down with her eyes closed,” Somoano said. “Then she opened her eyes to find a male standing near her with himself exposed and fondling himself.
“She immediately yelled, which caused the suspect to then flee,” he said.
The victim was able to see the man run to a parking lot and get into a vehicle, which detectives believe is a newer model of Lincoln MKZ, maroon or plum in color.
Detectives are reviewing park surveillance cameras, Somoano said.
“We’re very lucky and happy that the victim wasn’t physically attacked,” he said. “But, obviously, someone who would engage in this kind of conduct is very concerning to the public in general.”
Detectives released photos of the suspect’s car, seen entering and leaving Ed Davis Park on The Old Road.
Asked if detectives are considering a composite drawing of the suspect, Somoano said it’s something they are pursuing.
“We encourage anyone that may have seen anything or recognize the vehicle to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station,” Somoano said.
The lieutenant urged park visitors who take “selfies” with their phones to take a close look at those images in the event the suspect or his car were captured in the image.
Detectives are looking for a lightskinned male, about 25-30 years old with a thin build and dark hair. He was last seen wearing dark colored sweats.
“Detectives are doing an active investigation and there are additional patrol checks in the area,” Shirley Miller spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station added.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers by by dialing 800222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org