Registered sex offender arrested for public lewdness at park, police say
Mar 23, 2025, 5:00 PM
FILE — Police lights shown in West Valley City on Sept. 24, 2024. (Nathanial Gillis, KSL TV)
(Nathanial Gillis, KSL TV)
SANDY — A registered sex offender was arrested for public lewdness at a park Saturday, according to the Sandy Police Department.
According to the booking affidavit, police received a report of lewdness at Scott Cowdell Park.
According to police, the victim told dispatch that several children were at the park while the man was hiding in the bushes by the canal. The caller alleged that the man was “actively masturbating.”
Upon arrival, police identified the man as 31-year-old Victor Tapia. According to the SPD, he was visible from the public trail, which was roughly 30 feet away.
When police asked what he was doing, Tapia said he was masturbating, according to the affidavit.
Police said Tapia smelled heavily of alcohol. Additionally, he told them he was “getting high on meth.”
During questioning, Tapia told police that he was released from jail 15 days ago for a felony charge of lewdness, according to the affidavit.
Tapia was taken into custody and charged with lewdness, intoxication, and sex offender violation, per the affidavit.
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