LEESBURG, Fla.—A man accused of exposing himself at a Leesburg park and in front of a Lake County Fire Rescue firefighter is being held in the Lake County Jail on $3,000 bond.
Leesburg Police Department responded to Rogers Park, 610 South 9th Street shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday on two separate reports of a man exposing himself and loitering around the restrooms; one caller provided a description of the man, later identified as Desmond Seymore Harris Jr., 47, of Leesburg.
As one officer canvassed the area, a second officer reported there was a man in the women’s restroom and officers stood by the door as Harris exited a stall with his pants “open” and falling down, according to an arrest affidavit.
Harris told police he needed to use the restroom and an officer asked, “The women’s bathroom?” Harris replied, “yes,” and officers advised Harris he is not a woman and he reportedly said, “I know but I had to take a (expletive.”) Officers explained he should only be using the men’s restroom.
Harris identified himself and officers patted him down and found loose marijuana and tobacco wrapped up in a napkin and he was told to place his hands behind his back because he was being detained for the marijuana and for further investigation into the exposure complaint, according to the affidavit.
An officer cuffed Harris’ left hand and he began to pull away as the officer tried to cuff his right hand and he was redirected to the ground. Officers were able to cuff his right hand and detain him. One officer continued to search him and found a cigar filled with a mix of tobacco and marijuana while the second officer spoke with one of the victims of the alleged exposure.
The victim said he was walking to the restroom at the park when he saw a man he identified as Harris standing in the grass exposing himself toward traffic. The victim exited the restroom and Harris called him a racial slur and then entered the women’s bathroom. The second complainant wished to remain anonymous, and officers were unable to locate them on scene.
EMS responded to the scene and Harris requested to be taken to UF Health Leesburg Hospital. When the arresting officer arrived at the hospital, an LCFR firefighter told the officer Harris exposed himself while he was waiting to be assigned to a bed. Harris was told to cover himself and he complied, according to the affidavit.
Harris was medically cleared and arrested for exposure of sexual organs, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he continues to be held on $3,000 bond.
