Authorities say a man was arrested after allegedly exposing himself and performing a lewd act in his car near a school that was witnessed by a child walking to school in Libertyville.
The Libertyville Police Department responded around 8:17 a.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of West Rockland Road for a report of a suspicious person in a vehicle.
Libertyville Police Department Sgt. Dusan Racic said officers arrived and found a male subject who was the sole occupant of a parked vehicle near Highland Middle School.
Officers spoke with the occupant, identified as 31-year-old Victor A. Rodriguez.
Prosecutors said a minor victim reported that they were walking to school when they observed Rodriguez in his car, which was parked on the street near the school.
The child said they witnessed Rodriguez exposing himself and engaging in illicit activity, prosecutors said.
The child noted the vehicle’s license plate and reported it to the police.
Racic said the school was not in session at the time of the incident and no other parties besides Rodriguez were involved.
Officers charged Rodriguez with two counts of public indecency, a Class 4 felony.
One of the counts involves sexual conduct within 500 feet of a secondary school and the other involves lewd exposure of the body with intent to arouse within 500 feet of a secondary school.
“The Libertyville Police Department reminds residents to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities to the police. Your timely reports help ensure the safety and security of our community,” Racic said.
Rodriguez was transported to the Lake County Jail and appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
A judge released Rodriguez with pre-trial conditions that include no contact with schools or minors.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 21 for a status of preliminary hearing.