A local man was charged Tuesday with public indecency after a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier said the suspect masturbated in her presence while riding a bicycle, authorities said.
James Lyons was identified with help from tipsters, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded Monday to the 2300 block of McDowell Road after receiving a report involving an unknown white male and a mail courier. The victim told deputies the man, who was riding a blue bicycle, pulled his pants down to expose his genitals and began masturbating. The suspect allegedly made a remark to the victim before she retreated to her mail truck. From there, she was able to capture video of the man continuing the act while still on the bicycle.
On Tuesday, investigators followed up with the victim, who said she did not know the suspect but provided the video evidence. After a public information poster was released to the media, investigators received multiple anonymous tips identifying the man in the image as James Lyon.
Sheriff’s Office investigators determined Lyon matched the physical description of the suspect and lived less than a mile from where the incident occurred. CID investigators and members of the Crime Suppression Team went to Lyon’s residence, where he was located but declined to give a statement.
Investigators observed a blue bicycle at the residence that Lyon acknowledged was his and that matched the one seen in the video. They also noted Lyon appeared to be wearing the same shirt and necklace as the suspect depicted in the footage.
Lyon was taken into custody and transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where he was charged with public indecency.
Sheriff Gino Brantley thanked the public for assisting in the case, crediting community tips and the victim’s actions for helping investigators quickly identify the suspect.
“I want to sincerely thank the members of the public who stepped forward and provided information, including those who contacted us through our new MySheriff App,” Brantley said in a statement. “I also want to commend the victim for her courage and for providing critical video evidence that greatly assisted our investigators.”
