Ski-masked man raises concern among Land Park parents
By Kim Minugh
Land Park parents are abuzz over a suspicious man who has been showing up at softball games, parks and even outside one family's house wearing a full ski mask while apparently watching children play.
Police have responded to concerned callers on several occasions, but have yet to encounter the man.
On the surface, the man's behavior doesn't appear illegal. But police officials would like to identify him and make sure he is not on probation, on parole or wanted for a crime.
"Assuming this guy has no probation or parole status, unless he's committing a crime, there's not a lot we can do," said Sacramento Police Officer Laura Peck.
However, she added, "I don't want to wait until he does something harmful or hurts somebody."
The chatter among parents began after the man was spotted at California Middle School during a night softball game on June 7.
One 45-year-old parent, who asked not to be identified to protect the identity of his daughter, said the man showed up on a blue specialized mountain bike, wearing dirty clothes and a full ski mask covering his face.
The parent said he and others perceived that the man was not watching the action of the game - only the girls. He confronted the man about the parents' concerns, but the man insisted he was only there to enjoy the game.
"It got to the point where the parents were lining up to block the view" of the girls in the dugout, the parent said.
A coach called police, but the man was gone before officers arrived. He was back the next night, when softball players were practicing at the middle school. A coach, who also asked not to be identified to protect his children, said he, too, approached the man.
"I was very blunt with him," the coach said. "I was flat-out accusing him of watching little girls."
The man, who also wore a white bicycle helmet, finally agreed to take off his mask. The coach described him as about 60 years old, about 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, with a "scraggly" gray beard and gray hair combed back. He thought the man was a well-tanned white or possibly Latino man.
The coach said the man told him he was not there to watch any relatives or friends play, but denied being there for any nefarious reason. He also said he did not have a criminal record.
Later that night, the 45-year-old parent said his 10-year-old daughter yelled as she played in the front yard. As the father went outside, he saw the same masked man loitering near the home. The man left, again before police arrived.
Peck said that as long as the man does not appear to be committing a crime, anyone who spots him should call the department's non-emergency phone line at (916) 264-5471.
"Unfortunately, it's not illegal to be creepy, but they should call on him so we can come out and address him," she said.
Source
My baby sister plays soccer in Land Park. NOT COOL.
Land Park parents are abuzz over a suspicious man who has been showing up at softball games, parks and even outside one family's house wearing a full ski mask while apparently watching children play.
Police have responded to concerned callers on several occasions, but have yet to encounter the man.
On the surface, the man's behavior doesn't appear illegal. But police officials would like to identify him and make sure he is not on probation, on parole or wanted for a crime.
"Assuming this guy has no probation or parole status, unless he's committing a crime, there's not a lot we can do," said Sacramento Police Officer Laura Peck.
However, she added, "I don't want to wait until he does something harmful or hurts somebody."
The chatter among parents began after the man was spotted at California Middle School during a night softball game on June 7.
One 45-year-old parent, who asked not to be identified to protect the identity of his daughter, said the man showed up on a blue specialized mountain bike, wearing dirty clothes and a full ski mask covering his face.
The parent said he and others perceived that the man was not watching the action of the game - only the girls. He confronted the man about the parents' concerns, but the man insisted he was only there to enjoy the game.
"It got to the point where the parents were lining up to block the view" of the girls in the dugout, the parent said.
A coach called police, but the man was gone before officers arrived. He was back the next night, when softball players were practicing at the middle school. A coach, who also asked not to be identified to protect his children, said he, too, approached the man.
"I was very blunt with him," the coach said. "I was flat-out accusing him of watching little girls."
The man, who also wore a white bicycle helmet, finally agreed to take off his mask. The coach described him as about 60 years old, about 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, with a "scraggly" gray beard and gray hair combed back. He thought the man was a well-tanned white or possibly Latino man.
The coach said the man told him he was not there to watch any relatives or friends play, but denied being there for any nefarious reason. He also said he did not have a criminal record.
Later that night, the 45-year-old parent said his 10-year-old daughter yelled as she played in the front yard. As the father went outside, he saw the same masked man loitering near the home. The man left, again before police arrived.
Peck said that as long as the man does not appear to be committing a crime, anyone who spots him should call the department's non-emergency phone line at (916) 264-5471.
"Unfortunately, it's not illegal to be creepy, but they should call on him so we can come out and address him," she said.
Source
My baby sister plays soccer in Land Park. NOT COOL.