FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Neighbors at Westwood Apartments off Metro Parkway and Colonial Boulevard want to see a man who they say lives in their complex behind bars for inappropriately exposing himself where families and children live.
The Fort Myers Police Department has not yet arrested or publicly identified the man, but neighbors were able to recognize him quickly, saying he lives in the same building where he was caught on video. They want anyone who witnessed this to come forward and report it, and more importantly, for the man who did this to turn himself in.
Ring camera footage sent to WINK News shows a man unzipping his pants and exposing himself while walking back and forth in the apartment’s hallway. The Fort Myers Police Department originally responded to a call on Sunday saying the same suspect had been exposing himself in the neighborhood.
After officers investigated and took the witness’ statement, the neighbor who reported it decided not to press charges. Other neighbors who saw the video are angry, not only because it’s disturbing for them to see, but because the area is full of families and children.
“I’m amazed nobody has said anything or put out a notice yet, either. You would think that, hey, there’s a gentleman, you know, keep your eyes out,” Antonio Colon said.
Kenya Armstrong, a mother of two young boys at the complex, said the incident has made her more vigilant.
“It just kind of keeps my eye out more than just kind of staying in the window and watching them down there, or, like, kind of just being at the bench and then walking and seeing them walk off and be like, okay, they’re okay, because I can still see them, but it’s like, if somebody’s out there, now it’s kind of more stressful,” Armstrong said.
Safety is the biggest priority for these parents, and they say if they see suspicious behavior, they’ll make sure to act on it.
“My first reaction to get my kids away and then kind of call the police and try to stop the guy, because I don’t want anybody else to see,” Armstrong said. “It’s kind of traumatizing.”
Antonio Colon, who has five children, said he would take immediate action if he witnessed such behavior.
“Somebody would definitely be going to jail,” Colon said. “Oh, yeah, guaranteed, because I have five kids, so I’m not going to let something like that slide around me. No, especially in a community like this. There’s too many kids here. There’s literally way too many kids here, so something needs to be done about that.”
The Fort Myers Police Department emphasized the “see it, say it” principle. Anyone who witnessed this behavior is urged to call and report it.