One flasher arrested, one on the loose

Police have arrested one man and are looking for another after receiving reports of unrelated indecent exposure incidents in the Davisville area, including one at an elementary school.

Officers were at Hodgson Senior PS on Oct. 28 at around 10:15 a.m., after the school principal called to a report a flasher on school property.

Police say a 12-year-old student noticed a suspicious man and alerted a teacher to his presence.

When school principal David Ehrlich approached the man in the school’s courtyard, the man reportedly pulled down his pants. Ehrlich said no students witnessed the incident because they were in class at the time.

Jason Ledo, 31, of Toronto, was charged with mischief, interfering with property, committing an indecent act and causing a disturbance.

After the arrest, the school issued a letter notifying parents of the incident, Ehrlich said.

“The student did the right thing (by notifying a teacher),” he said. “That’s part of our protocol.”

Police are also asking the public to be vigilant after receiving reports of another man exposing himself at various times of the day and evening on the Kay Gardiner Beltline Nature Trail, southeast of Yonge and Merton streets. It’s believed the man has also been committing the same act in the Davisville area.

No arrest has been made.

Police say the description of the man matches that of a man who was committing a similar crime in the area in 2005.

He is described as a white, 25–30, about 5-foot-9, with a slim build.

Constable Wendy Drummond said indecent exposure is an offence that is often underreported and difficult for police to track. She said she encourages members of the community to be vigilant and to report any similar incidents to police.

“We don’t want to run the risk of this person’s behaviour escalating,” she said.