DC: For Second Time in Two Days, Metro Transit Police Arrest Same Suspect for Indecent Exposure

For the second time in as many days, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Transit Police have arrested a 27-year-old D.C. man on charges of indecent exposure on the transit system. The suspect is identified as Alex Thomas-Dorsey of Northeast D.C.

In the first incident, around 8:45 p.m. Monday, April 3, the suspect was observed masturbating on a Silver Line train between Metro Center and L'Enfant Plaza. When the train arrived at L'Enfant Plaza, a passenger pointed out the suspect to an MTPD officer on the platform. The suspect was stopped, arrested and interviewed by MTPD detectives. That night, officials at D.C. Pretrial Services released the arrestee on a citation.

The following day (April 4), the suspect boarded a Metrobus on the B2 route in Southeast D.C. In the 2000 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the suspect began masturbating and completed the act on the floor of the bus. The actions took place in front of other passengers, including at least one juvenile. When a passenger notified the bus operator of the suspect's actions, he exited the bus and fled the scene.

MTPD detectives retrieved digital video footage from the bus' onboard camera system and immediately recognized the suspect as Thomas-Dorsey from the previous day. Detectives then responded to the suspect's place of employment, where he was arrested a second time late last night.

Indecent exposure offenses are considered a misdemeanor in the District of Columbia. Despite this, MTPD devotes significant time and resources to fully investigating all reports of indecent exposure for the safety and security of all Metro riders. In addition, police believe that so-called "minor" offenses can escalate to even more serious crimes.