By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays Police Department is searching for a suspect who was allegedly touching his exposed genitals in his vehicle in front of two 12-year-old girls.
The incident occurred at 3:14 p.m. Feb. 29 in the 1500 block of Ash, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.
The girls reported they were walking a dog in the area of the Hays Public Library when they first spotted the suspect standing near the intersection of 12th and Main, Scheibler said.
He then entered his vehicle and drove away.
At approximately 2:55 p.m. as they continued walking in the 1400 block of Ash, the suspect pulled alongside the girls and asked for directions to Hays Medical Center.
He then offered the girls $1 for the directions.
When they approached the vehicle to take the payment, he was observed with his hand on his exposed genitals, Scheibler said.
Police were contacted and began investigating shortly after.
A similar incident was reported earlier the same day on the Fort Hays State University campus and is believed to be related, Scheibler added.
The suspected was reported to have been seen masturbating in his vehicle at 11:50 a.m. near the walking bridge on campus, which connects the main campus to Gross Memorial Coliseum, according to the FHSU Crime Log.
The suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his 20s with short hair, dark brown eyes, muscular with tattoos on his hands, and gauged ears.
At the time, he was described as wearing a gold necklace, a backward hat and a chain with a cross-inserted into the ear gages.
The vehicle was described as a blue or gray passenger car, possibly a Ford Fusion with a light brown cloth interior.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact HPD Officer Scott Heimann or an HPD detective at 785-625-1030.