A registered sex offender who was allegedly seen touching his private parts through his clothes near a children’s play area at a Glendale park nearly two weeks ago was taken into custody Thursday, police reported.
Hazem Alhajeh, 36, of Glendale was arrested about 11:25 a.m. on suspicion of indecent exposure, according to Tahnee Lightfoot of the Glendale Police Department.
Alhajeh was spotted about 2:45 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Pacific Park, 501 S. Pacific Ave., standing outside a fence near the children’s splash play area, according to police.
A witness recorded the man, who was seen “touching his private parts over his clothing while talking on his cell phone and scanning the park,” and called police, telling investigators the man drove off in a dark-colored 2018 Toyota Camry with black wheels, Lightfoot said.
According to Lightfoot, someone recognized Alhajeh from news coverage and called police.
Detectives served a search warrant at Alhajeh’s home in the 1000 block of South Adams Street and took him into custody without incident, Lightfoot said.
“Alhajeh is a registered sex offender as a result of a 2014 indecent exposure case that occurred in the city of Pasadena,” Lightfoot said, adding that the suspect was arrested, again by Pasadena police, in February on suspicion of indecent exposure. Trial is pending in that case.
Anyone with information regarding the Glendale case or any similar incident was urged to call Glendale police Detective Michael Mercado at (818) 548-3106.