Alleged ‘flasher’ is arrested at Thousand Oaks park

Police have arrested a Thousand Oaks man they say has been exposing himself to people near a park.

Antonio Cerna, 49, was arrested about 6 p.m. Tuesday on a patch of grass near Russell Park, where police said twice in the last two weeks he has “flashed” park visitors during the late afternoon.

Earlier, detectives released a description and sketch of a suspect and then staked out the park.

On Tuesday night, police said they watched from a distance as Cerna meandered cautiously toward Russell Park and onto a patch of grass and allegedly began to look for a victim. That’s when police closed in, said Capt. Timothy Lohman.

At first, Cerna lied about why he was at the park and said he was looking for recyclables, police said. But police picked up two alleged victims and brought them to the scene – and they identified Cerna as the serial flasher, Lohman said.

In an interview later back at the station, Cerna admitted to exposing himself and to “several other lewd acts” within the city, police said in a statement.

Cerna was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor indecent exposure and was being held on $10,000 bail, Ventura County jail records show.

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