By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A MAN hiding in the bushes with his pants down, touching himself inappropriately sent a frightened young woman running for safety.
The disturbing incident happened in broad daylight at about 10am on Thursday 21 April along the highly public Princes Highway in Officer.
The 24-year-old Officer woman targeted in the frightening wilful and obscene exposure offence was walking down the bushy pathway near Brownfield Drive when she noticed the man crouched in the bushes touching his exposed genitals.
Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Phil Jury said the girl fled the scene, later reporting it to police investigators.
“She ran off straight away when she noticed what was going on,” he said.
Det Sgt Jury said the man did not attempt to follow or speak to the female victim, though the victim was still left shaken.
The victim described the offender as Caucasian, aged in his twenties, clean shaven with a slim build and brown medium length hair.
He was wearing a black T-shirt and black tracksuit pants with a white stripe down the side at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
