UPDATE | Police have arrested a suspect in the Winter Haven case of a man exposing himself to children at the library.
Adam Timothy Tharp, 22, was arrested late Thursday after a tip to local law enforcement.
PRIOR COVERAGE | Winter Haven Police are working to track down a man who exposed himself to a child.
According to police, the incident happened Tuesday at the Winter Haven Library.
The man pulled down his pants in front of a 7-year-old girl shortly after her mother got up and walked to a different part of the library.
"It should be a safe place for kids to be able to go and learn," Aba Andah said. "In public places it's dangerous cause we can't control that there are perverts around. The library can do it's best but also, a parent, depending on the age should not be too far away."
As the mother walked away, the child heard someone whispering to get her attention.
Police said when she looked up, the man pulled his pants down.
She immediately got up from the table and ran to her mother as the suspect walked out of the library.
Video shows the suspect was in the library for quite a while in different locations crouching down and watching the children's area.
"It's a really serious issue we've been having," Tanya Dudney said. Dudney works next door at the coffee shop and said the area is filled with homeless people that harass her and other co-workers often. She wonders if it is someone who has harassed people in the area before.
"It is sickening why would people want to do that especially to the children we need more people to be aware of this so they know what's out there and a safe environment for everybody," Dudney said.
Anyone with information on the identity of this suspect is asked to call detective Rod Esteve at 863-401-2256.
Callers can also contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward of up to $3,000.
