Man tells deputies this senior was committing a sex act, waited to call and showed no evidence

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A man out enjoying nature was allegedly doing something he should’ve only been doing in the privacy of his own home, rather than at a county park with other people around.

Jessie Albert Whitney apparently caught the attention of one of those other people, who called sheriff’s deputies in Florida “regarding a male masturbating in the public park” on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Whitney “matched the description the caller provided,” his arrest report said. “The caller advised the suspect was in a maroon Ford Explorer Sport Trac, wearing a long-sleeved camo shirt, and was approximately 75 years old.” That last part wasn’t quite right. 

The arrest report was so heavily redacted that no “substance of a confession” could be seen, but there was a clue.

“Jessie stated he stopped here to [redacted],” it started. “Jessie mentioned [redacted] but nothing about his pants being all the way down, or masturbating, or anything of the sort.

“I asked Jessie,” a deputy wrote, “if he at any point dropped his shorts to his ankle as he was peeing, which he said no.

“Jessie stated he [redacted] and at no point was he masturbating.”

Then, the deputy spoke to the caller, “away from the suspect, where they could not see each other, as there was a wood sign blocking the view.”

The witness gave “a sworn recorded statement,” and admitted he waited, not calling the cops right away.

“[The witness] stated the suspect was at the entrance of the trail going into the park, when the suspect dropped his pants and underwear to his feet.

“[The witness] stated that suspect began masturbating while facing the parking lot, where he was seated in his vehicle.

“[The witness] estimated that this continued for a few minutes before calling the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, as he did not feel comfortable not reporting the incident, due to families going to the park.

“[The witness] stated that the masturbation session lasted for approximately four minutes in total.

“[The witness] stated the suspect pulled his underwear up first and then his shorts. The suspect then walked past [redacted] vehicle and entered his maroon Ford pickup truck.

“I completed a show up and read [the witness] the show up instructions, and signed the form. [The witness] positively identified the suspect 100 percent.”

The arrest report made no mention of any evidence, such as the witness taking out his phone and getting a photo of what he saw.

SEE ALSO:

• The e-bike he’s accused of stealing had an ‘I love peeing outside’ sticker on its frame
• 4 times in a month: Man accused of ‘openly masturbating and exposing himself next to his vehicle’
• Woman ‘wandering through the woods topless’ arrested for ‘something stupid’ and again a 2nd time, cops say

Whitney, who turned 69 shortly after his arrest, was charged with exposure of sexual organs. The charge is a misdemeanor. His Explorer was towed.

Order of No Contact, Dec. 2, 2024 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd

Whitney’s bail was set at $1,000, and he was released from jail the next day. Also, he signed the judge’s order to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Plus, he “was trespassed from the Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park Trail forever, and was advised not to return, as he was provided with a copy of the trespass warning.”