Deputies expose suspect in Lakewood Ranch flasher case

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells announced Monday afternoon that his department had arrested Jacob Martinez, 20, and charged him with three counts of exposure of sexual organs.

The three incidents had occurred since Jan. 24 with all three in East County and two in Lakewood Ranch.

The first incident occurred in the 4500 block of 53rd Ave., E., Bradenton. The suspect was in his blue Volkswagen Jetta and is charged with exposing himself in front of a 29-year-old female in a parking lot.

The second incident took place when a 49-year-old woman was jogging on River Club Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch. The suspect is accused of pulling his car next to the victim and exposing himself.

The third incident again involved a female jogger, this time on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Again the suspect is accused with pulling his car next to the victim and exposing himself.

Arrest warrants were obtain on March 3 and Martinez turned himself in the following day and bonded out of jail.

Sheriff's Office detectives believe more incidents may have occurred and they ask anyone with information to call the Sheriff's Office at 747- 3011.