Police: Montana registered sex offender arrested in South Hill after following minor and fondling himself

A registered sex offender from Montana was arrested in Spokane on Friday after police say he followed a minor and groped himself on South Hill.

Eric D. Gray, 28, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, according to a Spokane police news release. Gray was also charged with two counts of creating a public nuisance for a previous incident.

Officers were called to Rockwood Boulevard and Helena Street around 9:40 a.m. Friday to locate a suspect in a sex crimes report filed the day before, police said. Police had been searching for the man after receiving reports of lewd and indecent behavior in the area in recent days.

While Gray was being detained by police, they were contacted by a minor and a parent about an incident that had just occurred, the release said. Officers were told Gray had been following the minor on a scooter for several blocks.

Gray called out to the minor while fondling himself as the victim approached the house. The minor told police Gray had one hand down his pants as he followed her.

The suspect was pushing or riding a scooter before and after the previously reported incidents.

Gray is registered as a sex offender in Montana and has previous convictions for public nuisance, police said.

Anyone with information about recent incidents of lewd conduct that may be related is asked to contact Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 and reference case number 2024-20166224.

The investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.

Gray remained in jail Saturday night on $10,000 bail.