Bend man arrested in string of indecent exposures

A 32-year-old Bend man was arraigned Monday on public indecency charges, accused of taking off his clothes and masturbating in the aisles of four retail stores in Bend since April, in full view of patrons, prosecutors said.

David Littlehale was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail, held on $25,000 bail. A jail sergeant said he posted 10 percent of the bail amount and was released from jail Tuesday.

Prosecutors soon will present the case to a grand jury, and he’s due back in court next Monday at 1:30 p.m .

“The allegations against Mr. Littlehale are concerning,” District Attorney John Hummel said Tuesday. “If his guilt is proven in court, I will seek a significant sentence.”

Littlehale was arrested Friday, accused of exposing himself to women and girls on at least five occasions around the city in the past seven months, the most recent last Wednesday at a video store, police said.

In mid-October, police put out two surveillance images and sought tips in hopes of finding someone of apparently similar description who had exposed himself Oct. 18 in the clothing area of T.J. Maxx at the Bend River Promenade, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

The incident occurred in close proximity to a female customer in the store, who ran to the rear of the store and contacted a worker, who in turn called police, but he left before officers arrived.

The description of the suspect was similar to a separate incident on Sept. 23, when police responded to the Regroup Thrift Store on NE Greenwood Avenue on a report of a man exposing his genitals in a sexual manner, in the presence of a female customer, Burleigh said. He didn’t stop or leave until he was told police had been called.

Police obtained security footage of the man and did not at the time definitively tie the two incidents together.

On Wednesday, police were called to the Blockbuster Video at 211 NE Revere Avenue on a report of a man who had exposed himself in the store, Burleigh said.

Officers were able to identify the suspect as Littlehale. As the investigation continued, officers determined Littlehale matched the descriptions of the man who exposed himself at T.J. Maxx and the Regroup Thrift Store, Burleigh said.

Officers made several attempts to contact Littlehale, but did not find him. They also learned he was associated with a white Toyota Corolla with Oregon license plate 507 GKT.

On Friday, Littlehale learned police wanted to speak with him and contacted officers, Burleigh said. An investigation found he was the person responsible for the two previously reported incident – and two others.

On April 16, officers took a report of a man exposing himself in the Dollar Tree store on Northeast Bend River Mall Avenue, Burleigh said. On Oct. 11, officers took a report of a man exposing himself in a car at Northeast Seventh Street and Greenwood Avenue. Burleigh said officers reviewing the statements and evidence tied the incidents to Littlehale

Littlehale initially was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on five counts of first-degree indecent exposure, with bail totaling $50,000.

“There are currently further incidents regarding exposures under investigation,” Burleigh said in a news release, adding that officers and detectives are now following up on information.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents or others involving Littlehale or the car were asked to contact Bend police at 541-693-6911.