Indecent Exposure Incident at Decatur Library Leads to Lengthy Foot Chase and Arrest
Decatur Metro | August 31, 2012 | 9:59 am
Read the update in this case HERE.
Many folks are asking about police activity around Decatur Square and the Decatur Library yesterday afternoon.
Around 4:30pm yesterday, there was an indecent exposure incident at the Decatur Library, which led to a “lengthy foot chase”, according to Decatur Police. Eyewitnesses at the library report that some people in library chased the suspect down Sycamore Street, and when they came back empty-handed, reported that the suspect had run into the MARTA station. According to Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee the suspect is now in custody.
Some have reported that the suspect ran into the MARTA tunnels to escape. Still trying to confirm/deny that piece of info. Stay tuned.
Photo of Decatur Police outside MARTA tunnel courtesy of dw
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I was on the train heading east from five points. They shut down the line and evacuated the train, leaving hundreds of people stranded at the Edgewood station. The man indeed ran down the tunnel, for the mans safety, they shut power down.
not only for the man’s safety, but for the officers as well.
There seems to be a greater need for police at the library.
I agree
Yes and it’s sad. Our library does not have the warm, safe, literary feel of the libraries I’ve known elsewhere in other cities, including the Anthony Quinn Public Library in rundown East Los Angeles. I don’t know if it’s the times, the fact that it’s DeKalb County run, Georgia library culture, or what. The Friends of the Library do a wonderful job with events. But the day to day atmosphere at the library has discouraged me from spending much time there. When I had kids, I thought we’d spend hours in the children’s part of the library, and we did go to some preschool programs, but even the children’s section was not that welcoming.
“Georgia library culture” — ???
I don’t know what the traditional feel of a Georgia/Southern library is. I think of a library as a quiet, slightly overheated but cozy, safe literary feeling place, maybe a bit musty smelling. Even big city libraries. Our Decatur library feels that way in the two front rooms but the rest of the library has more of sterile government atmosphere to me.
Is this related to all the DPD cars – marked and unmarked – converging on the MARTA tracks just before the East Lake station around 6:30 or so last night?
That was a pretty crazy scene.
Yeah, I saw the same thing on my way home. Crazy.
I was at the library shortly after it happened. A child was involved.
I’m not sure if every Marta tunnel exit was as highly attended but the tunnel access on Hibernia Ave near Adair St was covered by many cop cars and lots of officers and detectives from both Dekalb County and Decatur running and shouting. The suspect must have run nearly a mile along the tracks below and above ground.
This explains a lot. My wife was stopped at Candler Park around 4:30, and I had to drive to get her. They opened a bus bridge to Avondale around that time. Our son was heading east on another MARTA train around 6L30 and while he was delayed he finally got to East Lake. But all the MARTA site ever gave us was “police activity” with an estimated end time of 7:19 PM.
I think y’all got a scoop here, guys.
Post updated with a photo of police activity at the MARTA tunnel exit last night.
The Decatur library is run by liberal types who would frown at the “oppressive nature” of police officers making security walk-throughs.
Do you actually know anyone who runs the library, or are you just saying ignorant things for the hell of it?
Until you let whiplash answer the first part of your question, you can’t ask the second part.
There’s already security (or is it police?) at the library but maybe there needs to be more. This has nothing to do with politics. Can the library environment be enhanced so that it is a safe and comfortable place to enjoy literature and research via computer? And hanging out, fights, and troublemakers are less common?
I might “want” to, but I just might not be able to help myself. I’m attending PC-Anonymous on a weekly basis, and it’s helping, but I’m still susceptible to slipping up a bit now and then. I was born this way, it’s not a choice, it’s an illness. Please forgive me.
Anyway, I’m duly chastised. I must admit, however, I liked your first response that simply read, “Yes, you must.” before you edited your self. The first one was funnier…always go with your first instinct. Oh, wait, that’s what got me in trouble in the first place.
We warched as the police sent a K9 unit into the Marta tunnel, near the E Lake station. The dogs found the perpetrator.
We watched as the police sent a K9 unit into the Marta tunnel, near the E Lake station. The dogs found him!
This was a crime of fluke opportunity. The library was full of folks, the security guard was on the main floor, and there were at least three librarians busy working the desk. I was in one of the front rooms, so I don’t know what happened where, but the security guard and a female librarian were among the first out the front door in hot pursuit—since no one rushed out the front doors ahead of them, I’m guessing they were trying to nab the guy as he came from the back side of building. Two DPD officers rushed in within two minutes of the screams of the woman who was with the young victim.
No one who heard the woman’s screams will ever forget her anguish. No one should assume that what happened to this child wasn’t extremely traumatic or that this guy wouldn’t have done more given the chance. Unless he pleads guilty, it’s not over because the child and woman will most likely have to testify against him.
So often we all feel too comfortable with familiar surroundings. Before this incident, I can so easily imagine one of my little kin talking me into allowing a solo trip into the library’s bathroom while I admired the art display nearby. No more. Same goes for playgrounds, parks, the Square, anywhere. Free range kids also need a candid reminder to keep their wits about them and a refresher on what to do in worse case scenarios.
There’s already security (or is it police?) at the library but maybe there needs to be more. This has nothing to do with politics. Can the library environment be enhanced so that it is a safe and comfortable place to enjoy literature and research via computer? And hanging out, fights, and troublemakers are less common?
Supposed to be up under Whiplash’s comment, not here. Sorry.
AHID- Maybe you’ll get double bang for your comment! :0)
I love the Decatur library and the staff, but it’d be an especially good thing if they’d be more active about nudging folks to comply with their posted rules. (Since I shared this with the library folks in an email a few months back, I don’t feel I’m speaking out of turn to express it again here.) As far as comfy environment goes, I recently remarked to a librarian straightening the chairs that there seemed to be quite a few chairs missing. She sadly said, “We can’t afford to repair them.” Maybe we need to revisit brainstorming what we can all do to help out. (I dropped the ball myself after sending an email to a Dekalb person to find out the best approach to requesting funds for the Decatur branch. I’ll try again.)
Re bathrooms: I would never completely free-range kids. Too many weird stories about the Hartsfield airport bathroom exhibitionism and sex trade, pedophiles, peeping Toms, not to mention that Amish movie. Even with a child of the opposite sex, if they are little, you can stand outside the bathroom and stare at folks going in so they know you are paying close attention and periodically yell “Yoo hoo, Mommy’s (or Daddy’s) waiting.” And with bigger kids, you stay alert to anything unusual. And you train your kids of all ages that they should always report anything concerning to you. Awful that you have to worry about a library bathroom but there’s sick people around, even in Mayberry.
Life is never dull in little old Decatur.
UPDATE HERE…
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/08/31/decatur-police-statement-regarding-child-molestation-incident-at-decatur-library/