An East Providence man will answer to charges of lewd behavior after Westport Police say he exposed himself to one woman on Gooseberry Island and perhaps as many as six more.
On Monday, Westport …
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An East Providence man will answer to charges of lewd behavior after Westport Police say he exposed himself to one woman on Gooseberry Island and perhaps as many as six more.
On Monday, Westport Police along with the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit and East Providence Police, arrested Andrew Butler, 45, of 55 North Broadway in Rumford. Mr. Butler was the focus of a week-long investigation that began on May 12 after a man allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a teenage girl.
Detective Jeff Majewski said the break came when a teenage girl snapped a photo showing the face of a man whom she said had just seen expose himself.
Westport and Dartmouth Police posted the photo on the internet and received numerous responses — the photo was viewed over 60,000 times on Facebook. After the posting, another six women came forward to report similar incidents.
Mr. Butler was placed into custody as he was leaving his Rumford residence in a tan colored Mercedes Benz. That Mercedes was mentioned in other reports to police from some of the women who had reported exposure incidents.
He waived extradition in Providence Superior Court and was taken to Westport at 4 p.m. Monday to answer the charges. On Tuesday, he was arraigned on a felony charge of open and gross lewdness in Fall River District Court. He was released on $1,750 cash bail. In addition to that charge he had a 2002 minor motor vehicle default warrant for unpaid fines.
Detective Majewski said that Mr. Butler, who was accompanied by an attorney, was cooperative and admitted that it was him in the photograph. He stated he was doing what was alleged but thought he was far enough away from other people. At least two additional people can be seen in a photograph taken by the victim moments after he exposed himself, police said.
WJAR television reports that Mr. Butler was questioned by East Providence Police three months ago after customers at a Savers store said they saw him peeking between clothing racks and apparently fondling himself.
The station reports that Mr. Butler is an employee of Lifespan where a spokesman said he's been suspended without pay.
Westport Police Officer Tara Souza along with detectives from two states and multiple jurisdictions are involved in the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Westport Police.