Tracking down a Tulsa flasher

Tuesday, June 8th 2004, 10:42 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa sex crimes detectives are looking for a man who's been exposing himself. It may not sound like that serious of a crime, but police say flashers often turn into molesters and rapists.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says a surveillance video shows the suspect's silver, PT Cruiser with sunroof and tinted windows pull into the Sam's Store at 41st and Sheridan.

A woman, we'll call Stacey was there, she'd just put her groceries in her car when she got quite a shock. "He had his zipper down and had pulled everything out, everything." She jumped in her car and called 911.

Some people might think flashers are a joke, but when it happens to you, it's no laughing matter. "It's scary and it's scary to go through this process. I just want it over. He's probably going about his everyday life and I'm the one who's worrying about it and thinking about it, if he'll do it again."

The man had been inside the store minutes earlier. He's heavyset and was wearing a large, silver medallion around his neck. Earlier that same day, there was an incident here at Big Splash with the same suspect description and same car description.

And, a year ago this month, there was another incident, also involving a silver PT Cruiser. Each time, he'd pulled the license plate off the car. So, police are especially interested in finding out who he is.

Tulsa Police Sex Crimes Unit Det. Liz Eagan: "People think these are just nuisance crimes because they were grabbed or attacked, but, we find these people do increase to more serious crimes like rape or attempted rape."

That's the main reason Stacey is willing to go through all this, to protect others. "I think of my family and my daughters and don't want this to happen to them and other women don't want them to be raped. I just don't want him to be out there."

Tulsa Police hope the man and his car are unique enough that someone will recognize him and turn him in.

And, of course, you can turn this man in without him ever knowing it was you. Just call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. They don't need your name, just the information and if your tip leads to an arrest, you'll earn a cash reward.