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Deputies on alert for flasher

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By CHIP OSOWSKI

cosowski@wfla.com

Published: November 13, 2009

Police sketch

Sheriff's deputies in Pasco County have released a composite image and beefed up patrols near school bus stops and schools where they believe a serial flasher is stalking children. Two cases have been in Holiday Lake Estates - one near a school - and the other four have been near schools as well.

The sketch shows a man in a floppy camouflage hat he was wearing during some of the incidents, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

According to deputies:

The first case was reported to deputies on Oct. 2 at Locke Elementary in New Port Richey. A 9-year-old girl told deputies that while she walked to school that morning, a man walked by her, exposing himself. The girl first told her mother and the mother reported it to the school. The girl, however, thought the man didn't realize he was exposed. At no time, she said according to the report, did the man talk to her or approach her.

On Oct. 12, a 13-year-old girl reported that while riding her bike west on Holiday Lake Drive to Smith Middle School in Holiday, she saw a man who unbuttoned and unzipped his pants before she rode by him. That man never tried to touch her and didn't speak to her.

In that case, a school resource deputy showed the girl pictures of sex offenders within a 2-mile radius of the school, but she didn't recognize any of the men as being the one she saw that morning.

On Oct. 26, a 44-year-old woman reported that a man walked up to her in Holiday Lake Estates and exposed himself. She went home and told her husband who then searched for the man, and, according to the report, found him five blocks away from their home.

Thursday morning, some students were just learning about the case.

"It's crazy," said Anclote High student Natalee Sesler. "Like, why would a guy so desperate do it for high school students. I know I don't like it, why would anyone else like it."

Sesler's brother, Brice, also a student at Anclote, agreed.

"I think it's kind of crazy how he's gotta come and expose himself to kids on their way to school," Brice Sesler said.

Deputies described the flasher as a white male between 20 and 30. They say he's about 6 feet tall and has light brown or possibly blonde hair. The man was seen wearing a blue shirt with the word "Survivor" on the back in white letters.

Anyone with information about the flasher is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski can be reached at (813) 221-5784.

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