Whitby man caught on video committing indecent act turns himself in

WATCH ABOVE: Chris Harrison captured cellphone video of a man committing an indecent act at a plaza in Ajax Friday afternoon. Another suspicious incident was also reported near a daycare a short distance away. Lama Nicolas reports.

TORONTO – A 72-year-old man caught on video masturbating while sitting in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck in Ajax, Ont. last Friday has turned himself into police.

Durham Regional Police said in a media release that Armand Gendreau of Whitby walked into the West Division police station on Tuesday and was subsequently charged with one count of indecent act.

A parent told Global News he was walking his dog Friday at a plaza near Harwood Avenue and Bayly Street at about 4:30 p.m., when he noticed a man in a vehicle touching himself while allegedly watching a group of children.

Chris Harrison said he then decided to film the man during the indecent act, in an attempt to put a stop to it.

“The camp kids were on the corner here … they’re sitting there having their snacks and drinking their water and I caught him on camera. He actually tried to stop me and pay me to not say anything and I just kept walking,” Harrison said.

It has been reported that similar incidents have occurred in the area during the past week.

One parent told Global News she saw an old man on a bicycle taking pictures of children near a splash pad at 55 Ashbury Blvd. S. in Ajax.

Another person said they saw the man take out a camera and take pictures of a nearby daycare with a camera and telephoto lens.

Police say they are still seeking leads on this and related cases and are urging anyone with information to come forward by contacting Det. Vanrooy of the West Division Criminal Investigative Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2530.

With a file from Adam Miller and Lama Nicolas