Flasher targeting students in Brentwood, Webster Groves

By Ann Rubin

KSDK -- Authorities say he's been terrorizing kids for more than two weeks. They believe a flasher is targeting them on their way home from school. He has already exposed himself to four students in the Brentwood and Webster Groves school districts.

Police say the man drives a black, four-door Mazda and calls out to the kids from the car. They say he asks for directions, and when they approach, he flashes them.

It happened to a McGrath Elementary student Wednesday on her way home from school.

"The parent contacted us today, we then contacted the police department," says Superintendent Dr. Charles Penberthy.

The Brentwood School District took quick action, notifying parents and providing this description: The suspect is a clean-shaven man in his late 20s, with a medium build and short blond hair. His hair is a bit longer on top than on the sides and back. He was wearing a light blue long sleeved shirt and dark black jeans. The black Mazda was clean on the outside and had clothes and fast food bags on the inside.

The superintendent hopes parents will be on the look-out for him.

"Since we are a community school, we have a lot of walkers," Penberthy says. "So we've asked the parents to accompany them to school the next few days or until this person is apprehended."

Once they began investigating, Brentwood authorities quickly realized this wasn't the first time, or even the first place, the flasher seems to have struck.

Webster Groves Police reported three similar incidents. The first occurred October 13 at Fairview and Cornelia. The second happened October 26 near Margaret Atalanta Park. And the third was Wednesday on Providence, just 15 minutes after the report from Brentwood.

Police say the victims were students from Avery Elementary, who were approached for directions. The suspect description is similar but in some of the cases, the man wasn't wearing pants.
In both Webster Groves and Brentwood, parents say they're on alert.

"Usually you'll feel comfortable with your kids walking alone if they're of the appropriate age," says parent Erin Stewart. "But now it's like should I even send them outside in the backyard by themselves? You never know who might walk by and do something. So it is; it's scary."

Another parent, Todd Ingersoll, says, "I will definitely tell my daughter about it, to be observant cause we do walk on the streets every once in awhile."

His daughter says she's already getting the message, to steer clear of strangers. Amanda Ingersoll says, "I don't want to go in any car anywhere!"

Until the suspect is caught, police plan to step up patrols near the schools. Again, the district is advising students to walk in groups or with an adult, not just to and from school, but also while trick or treating this Halloween.