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LINDON — Police identified a man suspected of exposing himself to young children, just hours after they released information about the case Friday and asked for the public's help recognizing him.
On April 27, a man allegedly walked around the children's section of Wal-Mart, 585 N. State, holding an electronic device — such as an iPad or cellphone — in front of his groin area, said Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore.
Over the next 15 minutes, investigators say he approached several young children, between 5 and 7 years old, and would move the electronic device away from his groin, exposing his genitals, the chief said.
On Friday, after police released surveillance images of the man to news media and posted them on social media, someone recognized pictures of the man on Facebook, Cullimore said. The tip was "very credible" and included additional information about what the man was wearing, he said.
No arrest warrant had been issued Friday night against the man, who Cullimore says is currently in Texas. The police chief declined to further identify the man, saying investigators don't want anyone to warn him in advance of his arrest.
Cullimore said he was grateful for everyone who helped spread awareness of the case.
"Social media is a great tool when it’s used appropriately," he said.
Cullimore said for the man to be that brazen, he likely has done it before.
"It can't be the first time. This is not a one-time thing. This is something this individual has done in the past, probably will do again in the future," he said.
Just a week earlier, the chief said another man who was exposing himself to children at the same Wal-Mart was arrested in an unrelated case.
