Man charged after allegedly masturbating at a Hilton Head beach
A man was arrested Sunday for allegedly masturbating while looking at young girls at a Hilton Head Island beach, according to police.
The 33-year-old suspect, who was listed as homeless in his booking details, was charged Sunday evening with indecent exposure and public disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.
Deputies were called to the public access path leading to Burkes Beach around 4 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses allege the suspect was “pleasuring himself in view of the public” while “mainly looking at underage girls on the beach,” according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Several of the witnesses asked the man what he was doing and “removed him from the scene” as they waited for police to respond, the report said.
The suspect, who was described in the report as “grossly intoxicated,” disoriented and “unsteady on his feet,” was handcuffed and taken to the Beaufort County jail.
As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held in custody on a $5,000 cash bond for the indecent exposure charge, according to court records.
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette do not publish the names of individuals who were charged with misdemeanor crimes unless the accused is a public figure or if revealing their name is a matter of public interest.
