Man Arrested for Indecent Exposure on American Tobacco Trail

Durham police have arrested a man whom they said they suspected in at least one recent incident of indecent exposure along the American Tobacco Trail.

Last week, two women reported that a man exposed himself to them behind the Parkview Mini Mart next the American Tobacco Trail at Fayetteville and Pilot streets. He was identified as Christopher Brian Cates, 21, with no known address.

On Tuesday, officers got reports of suspicious activity by a man who ran into the woods every time a patrol car passed by that same intersection.

An off-duty officer noticed the man peeking out from behind a dumpster at the Parkview Mini Mart and identified him as Cates. The man attempted to flee when officers approached, but they caught him after a brief foot chase.

Cates was charged with indecent exposure and assault on a female.

Investigators were trying to determine if he was involved in earlier reported incidents of indecent exposure along the American Tobacco Trail. Three of those incidents occurred at the same intersection on Nov. 10, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5. Victims in those cases gave similar suspect descriptions.

Another man, Laval Jarquon Leak, 19, of 2519 S. Roxboro St., was arrested in October for exposing himself to a woman on American Tobacco Trail near Juliette Street, nearly 3 miles from the Pilot Street.