Dennis RomeroCops this week were looking for a moped rider who allegedly exposed himself to a 12-year-old girl in Arleta and then, like the true winner he clearly seems to be, walked into a nearby liquor store.
The LAPD released a composite sketch of the suspect, right.
Here's what the department says happened:
On Aug. 31 the guy rode up to her on a moped, “called” her out and then gave her a look-see at his privates, according to an LAPD statement.
This happened about 4:20 p.m. as she was walking through a parking lot near the 14400 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, which isn't far from Arleta High School, police say.
The guy rode to a nearby liquor store and walked in, according to cops. The girl's mom confronted him but he got away.
The mother-daughter team helped a police sketch artist come up with the rendering you see.
LAPD Det. Luz Montero:
The girl did everything right. She ignored the man, kept her distance and told her mother right away.
Why are they telling us now, in October? We're guessing that the sketch and your help is the only thing cops have to go on at this point.
The 50-year-old or so Latino had a “skull cap” helmet on his head and was wearing a tank top and blue jeans, say police. The moped was black. He seemed to have a medium build.
Maybe know who it might be? Call detectives at 818-838-9975.
[Updated at 4:12 p.m. on Oct. 17]: Cops today said they got the guy. The LAPD identified the suspect as Geary Gornick, 50-year-old registered sex offender, who was required to wear a tracking device that they say put him in the area of the crime that day.
Gornick.; Credit: LAPD
(And folks, there's a lesson for us here, too: He was described as “Latino.” It doesn't appear he is — though he could be. The point is, such ethnic descriptions are fairly meaningless in contemporary Los Angeles. One out of every two people here is Latino, and more specific information about appearance is what really counts. Furthermore, there is nothing about “Latino” that gives you a definitive idea of what someone looks like. Mitt Romney, whose father was born in Mexico, could claim Latino if he wanted to. So can Alex Rodriguez. Dismounting soapbox.).
Where did they find him? In jail. Cops say Gornick was arrested Sept. 22 based on a meth-related allegation.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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