Indecent Exposure and Child Annoying Suspect - Let's Get Him Identified

OK Santa Cruz....Here is another one we have to identify and get into custody.  This one is particularly concerning, given the age of the victims and the boldness of the suspect!!

This is a sketch of a suspect wanted in a Child Annoying/Indecent Exposure case. 

 The suspect is described as:

•  White Male Adult, 40 -50 years old

• 1/2-1 inch long brown hair, bushy eyebrows and dark eyes
• The suspect was also described as having a "large belly, fat thighs and skinny ankles” 

The suspect was driving a white Toyota Prius or similar, and the license plate had the letter “H” and possibly the number “7” in it. 

This incident occurred on April 8, 2014 at approximately 7:20 PM.  Two young girls, ages 8 and 13, were walking near the corner of Dufour Street and Graham Avenue. 

The suspect drove by the victims and then circled back. The suspect pulled to the curb next to the victims and rolled down his passenger window to get their attention.   

As the girls looked into the car, they saw the suspect was wearing a grey shirt and nothing else.  The suspect was looking at the girls while he masturbated inside his car.  The girls screamed and ran home. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Investigations Unit (831) 420-5820.  Anonymous tips can also be sent to the police department through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995, or from our Website;  

www.santacruzpolice.com  

Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text.  Visit our Website for instructions.

Quick Thinking Victims and Citizens Lead to Child Annoying and Child Porn Arrest

Kudos to our victims and an alert citizen who called in this information to report suspicious activity.  Their alertness and call led the arrest of this predator. 

On Tuesday September 24, 2013, Santa Cruz Police Department Detectives arrested suspect Joshua Paul James 31 years old, (Santa Cruz Resident) on charges of Child Annoying, Stalking and Child Pornography.  Mr. James was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail with an increased bail amount of $250,000. 

Here is Mr. James with glasses

?

 

Here he is without glasses:

 

On Monday September 23, 2013, Santa Cruz Police Department officers took a report of suspicious activity involving a person in a vehicle around Santa Cruz High School.  Officers learned that two student athletes were running through the neighborhood as part of their training regimen.  In the course of their running, they noticed a suspicious person in a vehicle following them and appearing at various parts of their running route. 

On September 24, 2013, Detectives were in the course of following up the previous day’s report when a second report of suspicious activity was dispatched near Pacific Collegiate School on Swift Street.  It was reported to officers that a male suspect appeared to be photographing or filming female students in and around the school grounds. 

Descriptions in both cases appeared similar.  Detectives began scouring the city streets looking for the suspect’s vehicle.  They found the car parked in a lot near Front and Laurel Streets.  Mr. James eventually got into the car and drove away.  Officers conducted a car stop and contacted Mr. James. 

Mr. James was interviewed and eventually arrested for several counts of possessing obscene matter depicting children as well as Child Annoying and Stalking charges.  Detectives learned that Mr. James was video filming and taking photographs of young females between 13-15 years for purpose of sexual gratification. 

Detectives served a search warrant at Mr. James’ home in the 300 block of Buena Vista Ave.  Detectives also searched his car, a 2007 White Toyota Yaris, License Plate #5UCD442. 

Detectives seized several items of evidence including photography equipment, storage cards and computer equipment.  Detectives are in the process of meticulously going the through the images and hard drives to identify any additional photographs and/or victims. 

In this case, the efforts of alert citizens and victims provided critical information that assisted in the quick location, identification and arrest of the suspect.  Additionally, they called to report the suspicious activity, which eventually led to this predator being removed from the streets before he was able to claim additional victims. 

Help Us Catch This Predator

The suspect depicted below approached a 12 year old female as she was walking home from school along the 500 block of Walnut Avenue.  The incident occurred January 11th at approximately 2:30 PM.  He grabbed her buttocks as he passed her on the sidewalk.  The brave 12 year old confronted the suspect and he fled.  He was seen again in the area and confronted a second time.  He fled again, but a witness got a cell phone photo of his backside as he fled up a staircase. 

The suspect is described as a Hispanic Male Adult 21-28 years, 5'10" - 6'0" 250 - 280 lbs

He was last seen wearing a brown T-shirt, Dickie Style Pants,  and wire-rimmed glasses.  His sketch and the cell phone photo are below.  

Officers will be posting flyers in the area today.  We are hopeful someone will recognize him and report him to us.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact our Investigations Unit (831) 420-5820.  If you see the suspect or recognize him. please call 9-1-1.