CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Eli Lemuel Howard, who was wanted in connection with an indecent exposure incident at a Five Below on Wards Road on Aug. 3, has been arrested in New York City for similar crimes.
Howard was wanted on charges of indecent exposure and obscene sexual display after allegedly evading police and fleeing the state nearly three weeks ago.
New York police arrested Howard after someone reported seeing him commit a lewd act on a live camera on the George Washington Bridge.
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Campbell County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Murray explained what took place in New York.
“So our understanding is he was located on the George Washington Bridge in New York City. And someone allegedly saw him committing a lewd sex act on camera, on the live camera and reported it to police,” said Murray. “And our understanding is the police responded. He tried to flee. He was apprehended and then they found out about our charges and contacted us, and we’re working on extradition now.”
Murray said investigators have sent a detainer to New York City while they work through the extradition process.
“So we’ve sent a detainer to New York City. So they will hold him; he’ll have an extradition hearing soon. And he’ll decide whether to waive that extradition hearing or either have the hearing, depending on what happens,” said Murray. “It could take a few weeks up to possibly a few months. But when all that’s done, we plan to go get him and bring him back here to face his charges in Campbell County.”
Murray said authorities typically do not extradite people for misdemeanor charges, but they hope to get answers regarding the crimes.
Police do not yet have a timeline for Howard’s return to Virginia to face the charges stemming from the Aug. 3 incident.