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Post by scraphappyinjax on Jul 28, 2014 22:37:51 GMT
I'm another one of those parents who says "I can't imagine this ever happening in my neighborhood". My daughter who will be 13 yrs old next month went to our community pool yesterday with 2 other friends. They were playing around in the shallow end in competition pool. My daughter said they were doing handstands, back handsprings and just being silly. It was my daughter who saw this first and then the other girls after her. A man in his late 40's was in the next lane about 6 feet away and every time the girls would go under water he'd pull the front of his swimsuit down and start playing with himself. The girls said he exposed everything. Before this happened they noticed he would be underwater whenever they were & he was wearing swim goggles and would watch them. After the shock of seeing him exposed the girls started swimming away to get out of the pool. He followed them. The girls started swimming in the other direction and again he followed them. They were able to get out of the pool and went directly to tell a staff person.
This is where it gets unfortunate & maddening. The staff have obviously not been properly trained on what to do and how to handle a situation like this. The girls and the staff person went out to the pool so the girls could show her who the man was. The man noticed the staff person and started to get out of the pool. Staffer spoke to man and made sure he was facing the security camera. Not exactly sure what happened next but he was able to get out of the pool area and was out front in the parking lot walking to his car. A lifeguard and cleaning woman saw the man walking faster to his car & they started running toward his car to get an ID on his car tag. Unfortunately, he sped away and both people didn't get a good read on tag. Before the exit of our Rec Center there's a camera that is able to get an image of the back of the car. But guess what??? The camera wasn't working and was serviced 2 weeks ago but for whatever reason it was down. In the meantime, multiple staff members are debating should they call 911 first or call the Rec Center Manager. They decide to call the manager first, then the non-emergency police line. At least 20 minutes have gone by since the girls first reported the incident.
Long story short, because the staff wasn't properly trained and obviously there are no policies and procedures on what to do AND because the one camera that was the most important one, this creep will probably never get caught unless he does something like this again. It just makes me ill to my stomach to think what if something happened to my daughter or her 2 friends.
I'm so proud of my daughter and her 2 friends. They stuck together, didn't talk to this strange man & went immediately to get help. Parents, please watch your kids & give them HUGE hugs.
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Post by liya on Jul 28, 2014 22:44:15 GMT
Ugh! So sorry for your DD and her friends. That is awful. Hope they are doing okay. Time for traing at the pool immediately.
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Post by keknj on Jul 28, 2014 22:48:23 GMT
Ugh. That's awful. I hope they go over their policies and procedures to update them and provide the proper training to their staff.
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lisasahm
Junior Member
Basement cat is easily annoyed.
Posts: 81
Jul 10, 2014 23:08:59 GMT
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Post by lisasahm on Jul 28, 2014 22:49:33 GMT
Those poor kids, ugh! I hope he's caught ASAP.
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Post by scraphappyinjax on Jul 28, 2014 23:05:41 GMT
As members of our community we have to get access cards to utilize the Rec Center. When you get a card a picture is also taken. This guy actually scanned his card but the name & address he gave when he filled out the application is false. We don't go to the Rec Center very often because we have a pool but I'd have to think this guy has been before. The police went to the address given but, of course, person who does live there doesn't know who the man is & has never seen him. The only thing the police have to go on is the color, make & model of his car & a partial tag number.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 28, 2014 23:25:09 GMT
Be proud of your young ladies to know they did the right thing. Kids unfortunately can't be protected all of the time, but they knew exactly what to do to get out of that situation. Hopefully that guy won't have guts to show back up in your neighborhood pool.
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,770
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
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Post by garcia5050 on Jul 28, 2014 23:31:55 GMT
I hope the facilities where I go are better trained. Might be a good time to ask about those policies.
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Post by tampascrapper on Jul 28, 2014 23:32:02 GMT
That is so sad that happened to you daughter and her friends but they did a great job! As another poster said, hopefully the pool staff are now being trained on what to do in that situation.
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Post by dawndoll on Jul 28, 2014 23:41:27 GMT
What was said when the staff member confronted the man while he was facing the camera? We're the police able to get some good still shots from the footage? That is just sick.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Jul 28, 2014 23:42:11 GMT
As members of our community we have to get access cards to utilize the Rec Center. When you get a card a picture is also taken. This guy actually scanned his card but the name & address he gave when he filled out the application is false. We don't go to the Rec Center very often because we have a pool but I'd have to think this guy has been before. The police went to the address given but, of course, person who does live there doesn't know who the man is & has never seen him. The only thing the police have to go on is the color, make & model of his car & a partial tag number. I'd like to think that because they (the rec. center and now the police) have his picture from his access card, they would be putting it on the news because you know that he's going to find another place to go. And, if the picture on the access card is not him, as least share a description with the community. Other victims of his "show" might not know what to do like your daughter and her friends did. I hope the police catch him soon. What did the police say people should do if they see this kind of thing again? I know that I would have called 911; but, is that what the police suggest and should people scream to draw other people to the scene?
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 28, 2014 23:43:08 GMT
OMG, I'm so sorry.
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Post by kimpossible on Jul 28, 2014 23:46:08 GMT
Oh wow - how scary for them. He definitely sounds like a predator.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,790
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jul 28, 2014 23:47:13 GMT
How awful! Glad to hear that the girls kept their wits about them and did the right thing. Hope they catch the creep.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Jul 28, 2014 23:47:47 GMT
Make sure you follow up and demand proof of training and policies. From professional experience, I can assure you that sadly most of the time, training and policies do NOT result from reports such as these. People want to think these incidents are rare aberrations. They think it seems easier to just ignore and hope for the best, rather than plan for the worst. Do NOT assume that risk management, liability worries and fear of lawsuits will motivate them because that is simply NOT true; inertia and a deep-seated desire to think it won't happen again in "our" town usually totally negates any forward movement to protect children.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
Jun 25, 2014 21:53:42 GMT
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Jul 28, 2014 23:48:53 GMT
Hopefully the Rec Center will take this as a lesson learned and get the staff trained on what to do. Cops should have been called as soon as the girls came and told them. He used a fake ID to get a access card? He could have easily ran off with a kid and no one would know who he was.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,020
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 29, 2014 0:29:29 GMT
How upsetting for your dd and her friends. I hope the pool gets proper training. And I also hope that karma pats that disgusting man a visit.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 14:22:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 0:55:57 GMT
So no lifeguards thought it strange that a 40'ish yo man was wearing swim goggles and not swimming laps or anything? This rec center needs a huge wake up call not only on how to handle a situation like this, but being observant to general "creepy" behavior. (swimming alone...just hanging out...while wearing goggles)
I really think you need to push to make sure they know how to handle something like this in the future.
I sure hope they're able to catch that guy.
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Post by scraphappyinjax on Jul 29, 2014 1:49:54 GMT
Mallie, GaJenny & NoWomanNoCry, all 3 of you made wonderful points & I've thought the same thing since yesterday. The lifeguard who's post was at the competition pool said he didn't see anything weird going on. I hope they realize how lucky none of the girls were touched or harmed yesterday because the facility as well as the Rec Center manager would be dealing with a nasty lawsuit. I will be following up with the police as well as the manager to make sure proper protocols have been installed. Just crazy....
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 29, 2014 2:07:44 GMT
OMG, I'm sorry they had to be a victim to his perverse actions.
Bravo to them for being intelligent enough to know what to do.
And poo-poo to the rec center for having ill-trained staff and not knowing what to do.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 29, 2014 2:12:22 GMT
As members of our community we have to get access cards to utilize the Rec Center. When you get a card a picture is also taken. This guy actually scanned his card but the name & address he gave when he filled out the application is false. We don't go to the Rec Center very often because we have a pool but I'd have to think this guy has been before. The police went to the address given but, of course, person who does live there doesn't know who the man is & has never seen him. The only thing the police have to go on is the color, make & model of his car & a partial tag number. Since they have his pic, can they blow it up to 8x10" size and have it posted by entrance (are staff there to monitor) with a notation of "Not allowed to enter", or have his pic posted around the pool for anyone who is swimming to see so that they can be aware of who to look out for in case he comes back (unlikely, but possible)?
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Post by pierkiss on Jul 29, 2014 2:13:29 GMT
That asshole will do it again. And hopefully when he does, the victims will be smart enough to report him (as your girls were), and staff will now know what to do.
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mochi
Full Member
Posts: 449
Jun 26, 2014 1:45:16 GMT
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Post by mochi on Jul 29, 2014 2:24:33 GMT
Omg, how awful! Hope your daughter & friends are doing ok.
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,519
Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Jul 29, 2014 2:30:11 GMT
You can be very proud of the way your daughter handled the situation. As her Mom, call the cops yourself and don't give up until something is done about it. You can guarantee, it's not the first time he's done it and it won't be the last, and next time it might be more than just exposing himself
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Post by Goldynn on Jul 29, 2014 2:31:23 GMT
So sorry this happened to your daughter. I had something similar happen to me at a pool when I was 8 or 9. Some sick men can be so pervy!
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IAmUnoriginal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
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Post by IAmUnoriginal on Jul 29, 2014 2:37:24 GMT
He will do it again. These type of predators escalate. They don't just stop. When you speak to the police, ask if it would be possible for them to share this pervert's photo with other pools in your area and within reasonable driving distance of your rec center. He will show up again.
I'm sorry your DD and her friends had to experience this situation. But. I'm very proud of all of them for knowing what to do and finding someone who should have been able to help them. I hope the staff receives appropriate training on how to handle this in the future.
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Post by Dixie Lou on Jul 29, 2014 2:40:34 GMT
What a horribly scary thing for your daughter and friends to go through. I hope the staffers will learn what to do in that kind of instance. Ugh. How Gross
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,346
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Jul 29, 2014 2:44:37 GMT
Wow, it is really amazing what these creeps think of. If he went through that much trouble to give a false name and address you can bet that he has done this or something similar in the past. I hope he is stupid enough to come back and try it again but this time get caught.
I hope the girls are ok and this memory doesn't stay in their minds forever.
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Post by itschance on Jul 29, 2014 3:00:39 GMT
what a sick tool!!!! Something just like this happened to me and a friend when we were in our late teens and we got the license plate number. The police had us looking at mugshots and since we couldn't point out the guy, they said they couldn't do anything. Did they really think we would have looked up at his face after he took out that gross thing! This was in the 80's.
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Post by scraphappyinjax on Jul 29, 2014 3:01:04 GMT
Thank you all for your kind words & suggestions. I talked to my daughter this afternoon because it was kind of crazy when we got home & then she was invited to spend the night at a neighbor's house. I asked her how she was feeling and she said ok. She said she kept replaying the image of the man pulling his swim trunks down over & over in her head last night and had trouble falling asleep. I just told her that's normal & that she'll stop thinking about it so much as the days pass. I told her again how proud I was of her and that all the girls stayed together. My husband has drilled in her at an early age the line from Top Gun "never leave your wingman". It's so true...
As to the suggestions about posting a picture around our rec center, I think that's an excellent idea and will ask the staff if they will do this. I do have the detective's name who is now working on this case and will for sure be following up. I'm afraid too if he isn't caught he could escalate and actually harm a child. I posted on my FB wall the description of the man so hopefully if he does live around here (which I think he must) people will know to report him if they see him.
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
Jul 3, 2014 16:02:54 GMT
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Post by julieb on Jul 29, 2014 3:29:54 GMT
How sad for the innocence of your daughter. The girls handled the situation very well.
There should be a more secure measure in place. We have to provide a photo id and a bill, etc. from our home address in order to join our rec center. You can't just go in and give a name & address and have a pic taken.
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