Suspected Buchanan flasher arrested

Published 11:58 am Thursday, May 9, 2013

Buchanan Police say they’ve arrested a man allegedly responsible for flashing two underage girls and a woman in Buchanan Sunday.

Lee Clark

Lee Clark

Lee Clark, 45, of Bertrand Township, turned himself into Buchanan City Police shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday. He was lodged at the Berrien County Jail on two counts of indecent exposure.

Buchanan Police Chief William Marx said his department received a tip that led to officers locating the suspect’s vehicle at an address on Bertrand Road near the Indiana/Michigan state line Tuesday night. Officers located the owner of the vehicle, Clark, at a nearby residence. Clark later admitted to the crime during an interview, Marx said.

Officers could not detain Clark at that time, however, Marx said, because the crime was a misdemeanor and did not occur in the presence of the officers.

Sketch of suspect in Buchanan indecent exposure case.

Sketch of suspect in Buchanan indecent exposure case.

Police obtained a warrant for Clark’s arrest Wednesday and Clark turned himself in later that day.

Marx thanked residents and the media for their assistance in making an arrest. He said the city’s Facebook page, which contained details of the incident, received more than 12,000 hits in the past few days.

Clark allegedly exposed himself to two girls, ages 9 and 12, at a Buchanan park Sunday afternoon. He also allegedly flashed a 33-year-old woman later that day in downtown Buchanan.

A Michigan State Police forensic artist was able to sketch an image of the suspect based on witness testimony.