Hollister
– The Hollister Police Department is investigating a report of a
man exposing himself Tuesday morning to four children on their way
to Calaveras Elementary School.
Hollister – The Hollister Police Department is investigating a report of a man exposing himself Tuesday morning to four children on their way to Calaveras Elementary School.
The four grade-schoolers, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years old, were walking in the 200 block of Gonzalez Drive at 7:48am when the man exposed himself to them, Capt. Bob Brooks said.
The children continued to school, and they told school officials what happened later in the morning.
Schools officials notified the Hollister Police Department at 11:26am.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” Brooks said. “But it doesn’t happen with regularity.”
The man was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt that shielded his face from the children, Brooks said.
The victims described the man as approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall. He was also wearing a black shirt and blue overalls, police said.
He was last seen walking in the 200 block of Matulich Court, Brooks said. Officers searched the area after the incident was reported, but did not find the man, Brooks said.
Brooks said the victims acted appropriately.
“The kids did a good thing by walking away,” he said. “They kept going and stayed in a group.
Parents are encouraged to tell their children to walk away from such an incident, stay in a group and find an adult to report it to immediately, Brooks said. He added that children walking to school should not take shortcuts through orchards or fields.
“If you don’t know the route your kid takes to get home, find out,” Brooks said.
Anyone with further information about the incident is encouraged to call the Hollister Police Department at 831-636-4330.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.