Neighbors in Inman Park, Candler Park, Edgewood, Lake Claire, and Virginia Highland have bonded over their efforts to track a man who has been harassing, acting aggressively, and committing lewd acts in front of women and girls for the past seven months.
A spreadsheet shared with Rough Draft, compiled by community members, lists nearly 40 separate incidents where the man has verbally harassed, invaded personal space, encroached on private property, and publicly masturbated in front of women and children in the neighborhoods.
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) is searching for the suspect, who has an active warrant for public indecency. This is not the suspect’s first arrest: he has been arrested at least twice for other misdemeanor crimes, including disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.
Because he has not been formally charged with the offenses in the active warrant, Rough Draft is not publishing his identity or a photo. He is a Black male in his mid-30s, 5’10 with a medium build, dreadlocks, and either braces or tooth gems. He is often seen riding a rented scooter or bike.
APD has urged any residents who encounter the suspect to call 911 immediately.
For the women who’ve had run-ins with the man – some on more than one occasion – there has been fear that he is becoming more emboldened and his behavior is escalating to something far more dangerous.
In one of the latest incidents, he followed Kimberly Coveney as she was walking to her Inman Park home. It was her second encounter with the man.
Coveney said she went onto a neighbor’s front porch on Sinclair Avenue, but the owner wasn’t home. She called 911 as the man walked up and down the sidewalk staring at her. While she was making the report to the dispatcher, Coveney said the man exposed himself and began to masturbate in the street.
“I felt like prey,” Coveney said. “I was trapped on the porch until another neighbor came out and let me wait for the police in his home. As soon as the APD officer arrived, he [the suspect] fled on foot.”
Coveney said she believed the suspect’s behavior and actions were escalating and that could lead to actual physical violence. As this story was being prepared for publication, Coveney was seeking a protective order against the subject at the recommendation of APD.
In an incident described in the community document, he followed a woman into her apartment building in Edgewood, slipping in behind her before the security gate closed. He got into the elevator with her, saying, “I love you.” The victim was able to get out of the elevator and run to her apartment.
One of the pretexts the suspect has used is approaching women and young girls while they walk their dogs.
Inman Park resident Cara Martin, who’s had two run-ins with the suspect, said he first approached her on the sidewalk asking to pet her dog. He then asked where she lived and began to follow her, so she dodged into a neighbor’s yard to get away. On the second encounter, the suspect followed Martin for two blocks with his hand down his pants.
Disturbingly, the man has also approached several teenage girls as they were walking home or getting out of cars at their homes. In other incidents, he’s approached children younger than five and called them by name, according to neighborhood accounts.
Despite all the incidents, APD has been unable to charge the suspect with any acts of public indecency or harassment due to a lack of physical or photographic evidence and his ability to elude police. The current warrant for his arrest for public indecency is a misdemeanor charge, and Coveney was told he would likely be released on bond by the court.
Samara Minkin said she has been impressed with how the communities have come together in a time of crisis.
“This is a story of community helping each other,” Minkin said. “We talk and text regularly, offering help and letting others know when this guy has been spotted.”
Coveney agreed, saying she was in contact with her neighbors, both in person and online, sometimes on a daily basis, which has created a stronger bond.
Muhammad Hafeez, director of community engagement at Atlanta PAD (Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative) encouraged community members to also dial 311 to make a referral about the situation.
“While I can’t speak to the specifics of this case, PAD responds to non-emergency quality-of-life concerns that are often related to mental health, problematic substance use, or extreme poverty,” Hafeez told Rough Draft.
“This can include situations involving public indecency, welfare concerns, public disturbances, and individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis,” he continued. “Our community response team works to de-escalate situations, meet people’s immediate needs, and connect them with supportive services through a care-based approach.”
