PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police in Bucks County have issued a warrant for a New Jersey man who they said took part in a disturbing trend called “gooning” at a Dollar Tree last week.
Falls Township police said it was around noon on Aug. 4 at the Dollar Tree on West Trenton Avenue in Morrisville when an 18-year-old saw a man — identified by authorities as 30-year-old Anthony Oates of Trenton — touching himself through his clothing. The man then exposed himself while making eye contact.
As part of the investigation, Lt. Christopher Clark, said they learned the activities are connected to online communities in the dark corners of the web.
“Based on this investigation, we were kind of educated about the practice of — one of the terms for it is called ‘gooning,’” Clark said.
“It kind of guides them to Dollar Trees. Why Dollar Trees in particular, I'm not really sure. And apparently, the trend has been going on ... almost about 10 years, believe it or not.”
Clark urged victims of gooning to remove themselves from the situation, and if safe, immediately alert staff or others in the store to call 911. He cautioned victims not to confront the person.
“It is a crime, it's a very serious crime, and people who engage in this have a serious problem behaviorally,” he said. “There's a compulsion for them to do this in a public place.”
Authorities have issued a warrant for Oates and have contacted him to turn himself in but he is not yet in custody.
A similar incident a couple days later in neighboring Middletown Township is under investigation, but Clark said it’s unclear if the two are connected.
Warrant issued for Anthony Casey, who investigators believe is part of online community encouraging public lewd acts
Warrant issued for Anthony Casey, who investigators believe is part of online community encouraging public lewd acts
