Palo Alto police arrested a man who allegedly threw rocks at two women and then exposed himself to them near the Mayfield Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Police said they received a report at about 2 p.m. about a man who harassed two women who were waiting to use a restroom at the soccer complex, which is located at 2650 El Camino Real near Page Mill Road. When they responded, they learned that the man, who was standing between the restrooms with a bicycle, began to talk to the women. He became increasingly threatening and at one point grabbed a few baseball-sized rocks and threw one at the women, missing them, police said in a news release issued Tuesday.
The man then allegedly pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals while touching himself, police said. He went into the bathroom, came out a few minutes later and left the area on the bicycle.
Police said one of the women was in her 50s, while the other was her mother, who is in her 70s. Shortly after the altercation, officers found the man matching the description provided to them at the intersection of El Camino and Curtner Avenue, about a mile south of the soccer complex. They determined that he had assaulted the women and notified Santa Clara County Adult Protective Services to inform them that one of the people involved was an elderly person targeted in a crime.
The 39-year-old Palo Alto resident was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, criminal threats, which are all felonies, and indecent exposure, a misdemeanor.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent by text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the police's free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.
Editor's note: The Weekly's policy is to withhold the names of those arrested for most crimes until the District Attorney has determined there is sufficient evidence to file charges in the case. See our guidelines here.
Comments
College Terrace
on May 12, 2020 at 1:41 pm
on May 12, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Keep him locked up. These are not cite-and-release crimes.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on May 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm
on May 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Please keep him locked up and away from our children and community! This man has been nothing but trouble around Palo Alto. Please help keep our community safe.
Barron Park
on May 13, 2020 at 12:51 am
on May 13, 2020 at 12:51 am
A reminder for the above two commenters that the police would love to keep him locked up, but Californians voted, repeatedly, to let him out. AB109, Prop 47, Prop 57....
another community
on May 13, 2020 at 5:33 am
on May 13, 2020 at 5:33 am
Another sick puppy.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 13, 2020 at 8:07 am
on May 13, 2020 at 8:07 am
Posted by john, a resident of Barron Park
>> A reminder for the above two commenters that the police would love to keep him locked up, but Californians voted, repeatedly, to let him out. AB109, Prop 47, Prop 57....
If the description of the incident is correct, it could have been charged as assault with a deadly weapon. The above changes in the law were intended to stop charging shoplifters with three felonies. I know of no legal reason not to lock up people who commit violent crimes.
Adobe-Meadow
on May 13, 2020 at 9:29 am
on May 13, 2020 at 9:29 am
"Rock out with your..." something something?
I can't remember but anyway, yes, this person is dangerous and needs to be off the streets.
Barron Park
on May 13, 2020 at 9:58 am
on May 13, 2020 at 9:58 am
QUOTES: "This man has been nothing but trouble around Palo Alto."
"...this person is dangerous and needs to be off the streets."
^^^ Curious...what is the suspect's background? Is he a resident of Palo Alto or a homeless individual with mental and/or substance abuse issues?
With the current closures of various public-use facilities, restroom facilities have been increasingly difficult to access for those without a place to live.
Many parks have closed their public restrooms due to public health concerns & the only restrooms available in many cases are gas stations and supermarkets.
Was the suspect growing agitated because (1) he 'had to go' & there were people ahead of him, and/or (2) the restrooms are not gender specific (which added to his frustration & wait time)?
The suspect should have restrained himself but all things considered, he will now have plenty of toilet access in county jail & mot likely will be separated from the general jail population based on his anti-social & perverted personal 'issues'.
Adobe-Meadow
on May 13, 2020 at 12:55 pm
on May 13, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Everyone talks about so many mentally ill on the streets. Jail is our only option, which would sound intolerable if we said it like: jail is the only option if you have cancer, but that is our reality right now.
The REAL question is who has a plan and proposal to expand mental health hospitals who could accept any/all on the streets who need mental care?
Imagine places available to take in ALL the addicted and mentally unstable folks and keep them off th streets, getting them treatment and releasing when ready, not just after 30 days in the kink.
Which party has that plan?
Barron Park
on May 13, 2020 at 1:38 pm
on May 13, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Finally. This person has been a NUISANCE. He has been an unwanted and frequent visitor of one of our neighbors. I've heard him scream obscenities on our street, knock down another neighbor's basketball structure, and steal items meant for donation.