Metro Vancouver Transit Police have arrested a North Vancouver man for allegedly committing an indecent act in front of two teenage girls while riding a bus last month.
The two teens initially noticed a man "staring at them while biting his lip and making gestures with his tongue," shortly after boarding a bus near Park Royal Mall at around 7:20 p.m on Aug. 26, police said in a release on Thursday.
According to the release, "the suspect allegedly removed his penis from his shorts and began openly masturbating, while continuing to stare at the girls."
One of the girls managed to discreetly film the suspect before leaving the bus at Lonsdale Exchange, police added. After arriving home, one of the teens told her mother, who reported the incident to Transit Police.
Leon Stevens was arrested on Sept. 1 and charged with committing an indecent act and exposing genitals to a person under the age of 16.
Police credited the force's General Investigation Unit with working "relentlessly" to identify the suspect. According to the release, the 35-year-old North Vancouver man was bound by multiple release orders at the time of the alleged incident.
Stevens has since been taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 18.
The arrest comes following Metro Vancouver Transit Police's latest anti-sex offence campaign, launched last month. The campaign aims to bring awareness to sexual offending on public transit and encourages victims and witnesses to report any incidents.
"Reducing sexual offences on the transit system is one of our top priorities," read Thursday's release. "All passengers have the right to feel safe, without the fear of any unwanted touching, groping or gestures."
Any victims or witnesses of sexual offences aboard Metro Vancouver public transit are strongly encouraged to discreetly text police at 87.77.77 or call 604.515.8300.
#MVTPMediaRelease @TransitPolice have arrested a man for an alleged indecent act in front of two teenage girls while on a bus. https://t.co/H6oTIjsT4C pic.twitter.com/QpqIuGffTW
— Cst. Mike Yake (@CstMYake) September 10, 2020
