CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are investigating several incidents spread out across Charlotte involving children being preyed upon, Sergeant Catina Odom with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.
Odom said there are eight cases of indecent exposure involved minors ages 8 to 18, all female. CMPD confirmed that all cases involved indecent exposure, but none of the victims have reported being physically harmed or touched.
At this time, CMPD is not certain if there is one suspect or if there are more.
In six of the cases, there is a similar suspect and vehicle description: a black male between the ages of 20 and 30 with a low-cut haircut and a thin build. He is described as between 5 feet and 8 inches to 5 feet and 10 inches tall.
The vehicle has been described as an older model four-door white sedan. Multiple makes and models have been reported.
CMPD said the only way they will know that the cases all involve one suspect will be if they get that suspect, then the incidents stop. Police say they have good leads on a suspect.
"We're working aggressively in the Crimes Against Children Unit to investigate and bring a very quick closure to get him off the street," Odom said.
CMPD has been in touch with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Charlotte Area Transit System to increase police presence in and around bus stops.
In the cases, the suspect exposed himself and genitalia. There haven't been any cases in which the suspect touched the victims.
The cases go back several months, with the first on February 6. There was one case in which a victim said the suspect tried to lure them into his car -- there was no exposure reported in this case. They are looking at the possibility it was connected.
The cases have been widely spread across the Charlotte area, with no geographical pattern. Parents are asked to remind their children to be mindful of surroundings and travel in groups to and from bus stops. CMPD says children should never approach a vehicle and if anyone tries to approach them, they should run for help.
Up until the last few weeks, these cases were investigated at the patrol level. Once a pattern emerged in the suspect description, Crimes Against Children took over.
Based on their investigation, CMPD currently believes that the incidents are happening largely when minors are alone at bus stops.
The cases are as follows:
- May 2, 2019, 2:47 p.m. -- In the 7000 Block of Barcliff Drive, a 15-year-old female was walking home from the bus stop when a black male in a vehicle yelled, then exited the vehicle. The suspect exposed himself and offered the victim money to watch him. The man was described as a dark-skinned black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 150 pounds with a thin build, approximately 30 years old, with a short haircut. He was said to be wearing a white t-shirt and black pants. and was driving an older-model, run down white 4-door sedan. (20190502-1447-04)
- May 2, 2019, 12:08 p.m. -- At the corner of Autumn Ridge Drive and Cypress Pond Drive, a 13-year-old female reported she was at a bus stop when the suspect got out of the car and exposed himself. The suspect is a black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 150 lbs and driving while 4-door Cadillac. (20190502-1208-01)
- April 25, 2019, 9:25 a.m. -- In the 6100 block of Bent Tree Court, an 8-year-old female was standing at the bus stop when the suspect approached her and attempted to talk to her and she ignored him. He drove down the street to Farm Pond Road, turned around and came back. CMPD says he stepped out and exposed himself by pulling down his pants. The suspect is described as a black male driving a white 4-door sedan. (20190425-0925-00)
- April 22, 2019, 4:08 p.m. -- At the corner of N. Pine Street and W. 28th Street, a 14-year-old female told CMPD she was waiting for her bus when a man driving a white Toyota Camry parked and exited the vehicle. CMPD says he exposed himself. The suspect is described as a black male between 21 and 25 with a low haircut wearing a black shirt with jeans. (20190422-1608-01)
- April 18, 2019, 1:40 p.m. -- In the 6500 block of Rumple Road, an 18-year-old girl told CMPD she was walking on the sidewalk when the suspect’s vehicle passed by and made a U-turn. He parked, exited the vehicle, walked to the rear, and opened the trunk. As the victim passed, the subject turned toward her and exposed himself. He is a black male about 27 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 170 lbs. He was described as having short, almost shaved black hair and wearing black jogger pants with red, white and blue underwear. He was seen driving a white 4-door passenger car lowered close to the ground. (20190418-1340-01)
- March 26, 2019, 2:03 p.m. -- In the 4200 block of Carrowmore Place, a 17-year-old girl was sitting at the CATS bus stop when a man pulled past her across the street. CMPD said the vehicle backed up across from her. The man exited his vehicle naked, exposing himself. He was described as a black male in his 40s with some type of a large marking on his left upper thigh, possibly a scar, seen driving an old white 4-door Honda or Toyota with a sunroof and tinted windows. (20190326-1403-00)
- February 4, 2019, 8:17 a.m. -- In the 1400 block of Marble Street, a 10-year-old female reported the suspect exited his vehicle and exposed himself. The suspect was described as a black male between the ages of 20 and 30 with a dark complexion. He was wearing a black shirt and was seen driving a black sedan with a blue and white 30-day paper tag. (20190204-0817-01)
- February 1, 2019, 12:49 p.m. -- In the 1700 block of McAllister Drive, the victim told police a man exposed himself to her. She said she was very uncomfortable and began to walk across the street. The suspect reportedly todl her she was good and he wasn't going to harm her. He's described as a black male around 25 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds. He had been seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and a blue lanyard and driving a black sedan, possibly displaying a blue or white 30-day paper. (20190201-1249-00)
This is an active and ongoing investigation. There is up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.