Police apprehend arboretum flasher

A Wednesday arrest has left the mysterious Oberlin flasher exposed.

David L. Coury, 36, from Collins, Ohio admitted to nearly all of the flashing incidents on file with the Oberlin City Police and Oberlin College Security. The incidents, dating back to June 1995, occurred at various hours in the Arb and included "complaints of someone exposing himself and sometimes playing with himself," according to Chief of Police Robert Jones. Jones also said the victims were mostly female.

Interim Director of Security Joe DiChristina said both Security and the city police had been working hard together in trying to apprehend the offender.

DiChristina said, "During the last four months officers, myself included, have wandered through the Arb checking things out ... making a visible presence."

"The police department made some great connections on this," DiChristina said. He added that he felt their work showed they are very concerned about issues that worry the College community.

College junior Sarah Kotok has had several encounters with the flasher. The first incident occurred in October when she was walking her dog with a friend. Kotok said they saw him "standing totally, completely naked except for a bandana ... on his head." They then ran to Johnson House and phoned security from the emergency phone.

The second incident occurred during fall break, again while Kotok was walking her dog with a friend. This time Kotok said the man followed them for a while and then he stopped behind a tree and "jerked off."

Kotok said she became very interested in catching the flasher. She bought pepper spray and encouraged other walkers she encountered to call Security immediately when they saw the flasher. "If the police didn't catch him I was going to catch him myself. I was going to try, anyway," Kotok said.

"Every time I'd go out for a walk I'd take a walkie-talkie from Security," Kotok said. She checked in upon entering and leaving the Arb. Kotok said she told other walkers to keep calling the police and that one day it would lead to something.

Kotok recalls thinking, "No, I'm not going to let this fucker take over the Arb."

In late February she was called in to look at some photos of suspects but none of them were a match to the man she saw.

Feb. 28, the next day, Kotok was walking in the Arb with her two dogs and a friend. They saw a man squatting by the same tree as their first sighting with his hands in his crotch area. They recognized him as the flasher.

Leaving her friend and one of the dogs to keep an eye on the man, Kotok ran with her other dog to the emergency phone and described him as wearing "bright yellow running shorts and a long-sleeve white T-shirt." Kotok said the Security officers arrived quickly but the man had already disappeared.

Later that day, Jones said, two walkers observed an individual fitting the description get into a car. They recorded the license plate number and turned it in to the police. The plate number was traced to the owner, Coury. After conducting several interviews with the owner it was determined he was responsible for the incidents.

Kotok said she was called in a couple of days later and was able to provide a positive identification from a photo line-up.

In reference to most of the indecent exposure reports, Jones said, "We know we have that individual." But in one or two of the incidents the victims reported seeing a totally nude offender "and that's a little different than the others," Jones said. Coury did not admit to those incidents.

Because those incidents were somewhat more severe Coury may have been reluctant to admit to them or it could possibly have been someone else. Jones indicated he still feels there may be another offender. According to Jones, the police are currently in the process of reviewing those cases Coury did not admit to and calling in the victims for a photo line-up identification.

Kotok said she felt sure she had seen the same man all three times.

The arraignment will take place Tuesday in the Oberlin Municipal Court. A trial date will be set then.

Jones said Coury could technically be charged with 16 different counts of indecent exposure. "But to cut down on paperwork and have the same impact," Coury will only be charged with four counts. Jones said reports of all of the offenses will be given to the judge to aid in the decision.

According to Jones, this charge is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree (an M-four). The fourth degree would be the least serious on a scale of one through four. The maximum penalty for an M-four is a $250 fine and 30 days in jail.

Since Coury is being charged with four counts these maxima may be multiplied by four. The penalty can be assigned in full or it may be partially or completely suspended by the presiding judge.

If it is determined that mental illness is involved, the judge may also stipulate treatment. Jones said, "The nature of the incidents indicates that [Coury] does have a mental illness."

According to Jones, Coury does not have any known previous offenses on record.

Referring to the recent apprehension of an aggravated assault suspect. Jones said, "So far we feel things are pretty well under control now that we have these two individuals."

DiChristina emphasized, "You never know when something odd is going to happen so you have to be aware of your surroundings. The best thing is if you can go with someone else."