Lewd activity at White Rock Lake spurs police warning
Posted on 05/06/2002 7:41:06 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Lewd activity at White Rock Lake spurs police warning
Don't let children use restrooms alone, parents advised
05/06/2002
Dallas police have a warning for parents visiting parks at White Rock Lake: Don't let your children go into public restrooms alone.
For decades, the parks have attracted more than families who enjoy picnics while watching spectacular sunsets over the downtown skyline and recreational enthusiasts who use the miles of trails. It's also a destination for people cruising for anonymous sex, police and residents say.
The area has been listed on Web sites devoted to sexual tourists, police and residents say.
Starting Monday, lake officers will be working undercover to arrest those who visit the parks seeking sex in the latest effort to keep unwanted visitors away from the lake.
The new push is coming as warmer weather brings more visitors to city parks. Mother's Day this Sunday typically is one of the busiest days at White Rock Lake, said Deputy Chief Bill Turnage. He advised parents not to allow children to go into park restrooms unescorted.
Patrol officers will don street clothes to arrest those who visit the park and solicit others for illicit purposes, said Chief Turnage, who oversees the northeast Dallas patrol area. The undercover work is a difficult assignment for officers, he said.
"It's the epitome of dedication to go out and take an assignment like that," he said.
The illegal activities occur throughout the year. Police have made 153 arrests for public lewdness and sexual activity at the lake since January 2001, including 32 in December alone.
"Once a location becomes popular for that kind of activity, it goes on year-round," Chief Turnage said.
Megan Capshaw, who has lived near White Rock Park about 10 years, said she's disconcerted by and at times suspicious of men driving slowly through the area. The activity is actually most common during business hours on weekdays.
"Sometimes you can't tell if it's a guy cruising for his own personal satisfaction with a consenting adult, or if it's a pedophile," she said. "Winter, rain, ice storms you've still got people cruising the park."
The situation near her house improved about two years ago when residents pressured city leaders to eliminate some parking spaces near homes.
"We've had vice officers chase people through our back yard," she said.
Mike Traylor, who was throwing a stick to his dog Saturday afternoon with his 6-year-old son and his 4-year-old daughter, said he supports the police effort since he's heard rumors about crime at the park.
"I think it's absolutely a good idea that the police are reminding people about taking precautions," he said.
Deb Lawson, who was fishing with her 5-year-old son Saturday, said she would not come out to the park after dark.
"You would hope that wouldn't be happening, but you can't let your kids out of your sight for a minute," she said.
Public lewdness is a Class B misdemeanor that carries punishment of up to 180 days in jail and a fine of $2,000, and indecent exposure is a Class C misdemeanor with punishment of a fine of up to $500. Although the crimes are misdemeanors, the threat of arrest can be a deterrent, because many of those caught would be embarrassed if their activities were known, police say.
City Council member Mary Poss, whose district includes the lake, said similar enforcement efforts have had an impact for several years, but the behavior returns unless the police presence continues.
"I would say there will always be some kind of ongoing activity like that at a recreation area that large," she said. "Police have to go back in on an intermittent basis."
Staff writer Nancy Calaway contributed to this report.
E-mail rtharp@dallasnews.com
SR
Cross that "M" company off my list of prospective employers! :O)
In Dallas county? - not ever, I hope.
Arm yourself. Soon as storys of potential child abusers and other idiots find themselves stating down the business end of Moms or Dads handgun, or staring at a hole in thier chest, this kind of crap would stop in a heartbeat.
Well SOMETIMES yer just lookin' for a convenient bush, yaknowwhatI'msayin'? ;)
Bwahaha... Talk about double entendre...
NAWWWWWWWW... I read that one in my kiddie storybooks, dude...
You sure that was just water?
Bwahaha...
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