Man Arrested for Exposing Himself to Child

Spring Hill

On 07-05-15, a father with his two small children was shopping in the Winn Dixie located at 11092 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill.

While walking along the aisles, the female noticed an elderly male following her and her family members around the store. She told her father and they proceeded to the checkout line, followed by the elderly male. The elderly male then followed the family out to the parking lot.

Once out of the store, the female told her father that while inside the store, the elderly male had exposed himself to her. The father quickly obtained a vehicle description and a tag number on the vehicle the suspect was leaving in.

On the same date, deputies made contact with the suspect, identified as Douglas Lavelle, at his residence. Lavelle admitted to being in Winn Dixie at the time of the incident but denied committing the offense.

A CPT interview was conducted on the female. During the interview, she provided details on the incident to include the fact the man had exposed himself on three separate occasions in the store. Additional details were provided by the child.

A second interview was conducted with Lavelle and he admitted to exposing himself to the child in Winn Dixie. During the interview Lavelle was also confronted about two prior incidents that occurred at the Publix Supermarket located at Mariner and Northcliffe. Lavelle had been “trespassed” from that location in May of 2015 for a similar incident of touching himself and following children around the store.

On 07-22-15, Douglas W. Lavelle DOB/03-08-1943 was arrested by detectives, he was charged as follows:
– Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition on a Child Under the Age of Sixteen
– Bond – $5,000.