New London man charged with indecent exposure and eluding

MT. PLEASANT — Reports of a male touching himself inappropriately in front of several women resulted in a short pursuit Tuesday morning.

Jacob Noble, 32 of New London, was arrested for three counts of indecent exposure and one count of eluding, both serious misdemeanors, after Officer Ryan Pilling was flagged down by three adult women on the city bike trail in the 800-block of South Jefferson Street.

“The women reported a white male with curly hair and a beard and just pulled up to them and after getting their attention they could see he was masturbating inside his vehicle,” Pilling stated in his affidavit.

According to Pilling, the victims were offended by this behavior and gave a description of the subject and the vehicle he was driving.

“A short time later a vehicle was located with a man matching the suspects description driving the vehicle,” Pilling states. “As fully marked uniformed officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it accelerated rapidly and failed to stop at stop signs. Officers pursued the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated before the above-named defendant stopped.”

Pilling states that the defendant did not admit to the act but did state he was in the area where it occurred and stated that he was "adjusting himself" while at a stop sign.

“All three victims positively identified the defendant as the person they witnessed doing this act,” Pilling states.

Noble was released on his own recognizance and the court set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 7 at 9 a.m.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com