Man arrested after reports of flasher at thrift store

Police arrested a 43-year-old man suspected of flashing shoppers in a Costa Mesa thrift store Tuesday.

When officers arrived at the Goodwill store on West 19th Street, a female employee told them she had seen a man expose his genitals to a group of female customers moments before, Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott said.

Shoppers had complained about the man flashing people in the store earlier in the day, Scott said. He was not aggressive but reportedly would follow customers and expose himself, Scott said.

The man left the store without anyone calling police, but when he returned at about 8 p.m. employees called for help, Scott said.

A male employee told officers that he had watched the man walk around the store and repeatedly place his hands near the front of his pants, Scott said.

Officers booked Mark Ley of Costa Mesa on suspicion of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, and later released him with a court date, Scott said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck