May 26, 2007

Serial flasher suspect nabbed

Police go undercover to catch man

By Kristina Peterson / Daily News Staff Writer

Undercover police officers arrested a man Friday who they believe may have exposed himself several times in the last three months near Palo Alto High School.

Sgt. Sandra Brown spotted Ricardo Valencia, 34, of Redwood City, on the path behind Town and Country Village at 7:30 a.m. He matched the description provided by a Palo Alto High School student who encountered a man exposing himself and masturbating on the same path on Tuesday.

Valencia appeared to be urinating in the bushes and was "furtively looking around," Brown said.

"I didn't expect to see him," said Brown, who was dressed in civilian clothing at the time.

When Valencia started to "briskly" walk toward Town and Country Village, Brown said she identified herself as a police officer and ordered him to stop. Instead of listening, he broke into a run.

Brown chased after Valencia, calling out to nearby citizens eating breakfast and workers in the area to stop him. Someone stepped out of a doorway and grabbed him, and officers quickly caught up and arrested Valencia.

Police believe Valencia may have exposed himself to the same high school student on three occasions in the past two months. Additionally, a Palo Alto High School teacher and another student also told police they had seen a similar-looking man exposing himself in the same area, the first incident taking place March 16.

Valencia was booked into the San Jose Main Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and was placed on a federal immigration hold for a prior felony conviction.

"I don't think we'll have a problem with this guy anymore," Brown said.


E-mail Kristina Peterson at kpeterson@dailynewsgroup.com.