Riverdale High students report man exposed, pleasured himself in school parking lot

A group of female Riverdale High School students reported a man exposing and pleasuring himself in the high school’s parking lot after school hours.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened Thursday afternoon.

Several girls told a deputy a man was parked in the parking lot and was seen pulling out his genitals and stimulating himself in full view of everyone nearby. Families are concerned with what has happened.

The girls said it didn’t appear the suspect was “performing the act lasciviously” by trying to get their attention, speaking with them or staring at anyone, but they “just thought law enforcement should know.” The girls declined to provide any written statements or further information.

While the deputy was speaking with the girls, he was told by dispatch that the original complainant currently across the street at the Riverdale Branch Library, so deputies went to speak with her.

The victim said she pulled into the school’s parking lot to pick up her sister at 4 p.m., and she saw a man in the driver’s seat of a truck. When her sister arrived, the victim said she pulled out of her parking spot and noticed the man had pulled his genitals from his pants and was pleasuring himself. She said he looked her in the eyes while doing so, so she quickly backed out of her spot and left.

The victim said she saw the truck leaving while she was in the library’s parking lot, and the truck turned east onto Palm Beach Boulevard off Buckingham Road.

Jan Gremore and her sister, Sherry Rickard say they know the shock that group of girls is going through because it happened to them.

“Oh it’s terrible. I couldn’t talk about it when I was young. Sherry was with me. this guy was sitting in a car, and had himself exposed, and was fondling himself,” said Gremore.

“It just stays with you, the rest of your life. You’re kind of like I said, afraid to look at a car, afraid someone is sitting in it doing something,” said Rickard.

A cheerleading coach at the school told deputies she also spoke with the girls about the incident. Gremore describes it as a “devastating” experience.

“It still makes me sick to my stomach, and to think that these poor girls are going through that now, I pray to God that they get this man because he’s a sick individual,” said Gremore.

The vehicle is described as a red or orange Ford F-150 pick-up.

A suspect has not been identified or arrested. The sheriff’s office says they don’t have a very good description.

A victim’s mom said other families are afraid to come forward. But she fears that if no steps up, more people will live through that nightmare.

Sherry says no one should have to go through that. “Let’s find this guy,” said Rickard.

The victim’s mom hopes someone watching might know something.

If you have any information that would help the investigation, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000.

---

The following email was sent by the school to parents:

Good afternoon Riverdale families,

We wanted to let you know of an incident that occurred after school hours. A student witnessed a man in a red or orange Ford F-150 pick-up truck exposing himself.

The Sheriff’s Office was immediately notified and continues to investigate. They have also increased patrols around our campus. School staff are providing any necessary assistance.

If you have any information that would help the investigation, please call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000.