Sandy police want help ID’ing man who exposed himself to child at mall

SANDY — Police are looking for the public’s help to identify a man suspected of exposing himself to a 9-year-old boy at a shopping center earlier this month.

According to a statement from the boy, an unidentified male approached him on April 21 at the Shops at South Town, pulled down his pants and exposed himself to the child, going as far as saying to “come closer” while his pants were down. The child ran out of the bathroom to find his mother, police said.

The boy was able to point out the man to his mother, who tried to take of photo of the man with her cellphone, but he quickly knocked the phone out of her hands and pushed her to the ground before fleeing the mall and asking patrons to take him to a nearby TRAX station, according to a news release from the Sandy Police Department.

Police say the man was last seen getting into a late-model black Ford Mustang. He is described as being in his early to mid-20s, and between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, with dark hair.

Anyone who recognizes the man or has any further information is asked to contact Sandy police at 801-568-7200 or through the anonymous tip line at 801-568-INFO.