St George man arrested after series of offensive acts

St. George, Utah (KuTV) — A 32-year-old St. George man faces multiple lewd charges following a series of incidents in Washington County, authorities said.

Shawn D. Truman was arrested on August 12 after multiple reports of a man exposing himself to women and minors in a vehicle.

The incidents occurred in St. George and nearby New Harmony, according to an affidavit from a Washington County Sheriff's Office officer.

Behavioral patterns

Investigators say Truman parked his vehicle and asked passersby for directions. When the victims approached the car, they reportedly found the driver completely naked.

An incident on August 2 involved three women, two of them minors, at a youth treatment center in New Harmony.

“The man made no attempt to cover himself or apologize and continued to ask the woman questions,” the arresting officer's report states.

The victims managed to photograph the vehicle's license plate before the suspect left the scene.

10 days later

Another probable cause of action related to another incident ten days later in which Truman is accused of exposing himself to a woman in St. George City.

According to the report, the woman said that a vehicle came towards her as she was walking.

“(The victim) stated that the man was speaking softly, so she had to get closer to hear him,” the St. George City police officer's affidavit states. “(The victim) stated that she got closer to the vehicle and … noticed at that time that the man was completely naked in his vehicle.”

“(The victim) told him to put some clothes on and then he drove away,” the officer added.

The woman was also able to provide the officer with the license plate number, and the officer reported that he was then able to trace the vehicle back to Truman.

The report said police had received “several complaints” about Truman in the past.

According to the affidavit, Truman had previously been arrested in Minnesota in 2012 for causing a public nuisance, but that case was ultimately dropped.

Suspect turns himself in

Truman turned himself in to St. George police on August 12, where he was arrested by Washington County officials. He is charged with several counts of lewdness, which are misdemeanors under Utah law.

Authorities have asked any possible victims or anyone with information about additional incidents to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (435) 656-6500 or the St. George Police Department at (435) 627-4300.