Police: Lewdness suspect got a surprise in South Jersey park

MAPLE SHADE - A quick-thinking girl helped police nab a man suspected of engaging in lewd behavior here and in Moorestown, authorities say.

The suspect, 52-year-old Brian Miller of Maple Shade, is accused of exposing himself during a sex act in the presence of juveniles at the Collins Avenue dog park, according to township police.

He allegedly engaged in similar behavior in front of a woman on Main Street in Moorestown's business district and before two juveniles selling lemonade outside a home.

In the Maple Shade incident, police allege Miller engaged in a sex act while standing near two juveniles kissing in a gazebo at the dog park.

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The boy and girl left the gazebo, but returned "and hung out until they knew [Miller] was gone," says a probable cause statement.

But Miller had not left, and the young couple saw him hiding in bushes, the statement says.

Police: Girl surprised suspect

The statement says the girl moved to kiss the boy, then took Miller's picture with her cellphone when he allegedly resumed his sex act.

The juveniles called police, who stopped Miller while he was walking in the park.

Miller told officers he had urinated in the park, and that he had looked to be sure no one could see him, the statement says.

But when the juveniles showed the officers their explicit photo of Miller, he was taken into custody.

The girl later told police Miller had approached the couple as they arrived at the park and had asked "strange questions," the statement says.

The girl said she noticed him about 20 minutes later "with his pants just above his knees and he was 'going to town,'" the statement says.

The juveniles also said younger children were present around the same time, including a boy who ran off when Miller allegedly asked if he liked the park.

The incident took place around 6:25 p.m. on July 30, but the details were disclosed in an Aug. 12 criminal complaint.

Two Moorestown incidents

Moorestown police have charged Miller in connection with two incidents earlier on July 30.

Those charges, announced in a Facebook post on Aug. 12, allege Miller was driving a silver convertible when he began a conversation around 1:45 p.m. with a woman standing outside a CVS on the 200 block of Main Street.

The woman crossed the street to a Wawa after realizing Miller was engaged in a sex act, "but the male subject began to follow her there," according to a police account.

It says the suspect had left the area before police arrived.

At 2:30 p.m., the account says, a man in a silver convertible approached two teenagers selling lemonade on Westbrook Drive.

The teens noticed the driver was exposing himself, then returned to their house and alerted their parents, police say.

One parent was able to photograph Miller and his vehicle as he was idling near the end of the block.

Miller is charged in Moorestown and Maple Shade with multiple counts of lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child.

The charges are only allegations. Miller has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Police: Lewdness suspect got a surprise in South Jersey park