Park peeper peers at kids from porta potty

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - A Peeping Tom has been looking at kids at a public park.

Right now, police don't know who that man is, or where he is, but they know he didn't have good intentions.

That man was caught peaking at children through holes carved into a porta potty at a busy Roswell park.

Carol Doyal enjoys bringing her 4-year-old granddaughter to Cahoon Park.

"It's just perfect to be outside and get out of the house for a little bit," said Doyal.

But Tuesday, she and other parents were on alert. Friday afternoon a woman playing with her kids saw a man peeking at children through carved holes in a nearby toilet, while pleasuring himself.  

"We came over here immediately to see what was going on, and we noticed three decent sized holes were carved out of the plastic porta potty," recalled Roswell Parks Superintendent Ken Smith.

By the time park officials got there, the guy was gone.

Parks workers patched the holes inside and out with duct tape until they could seal them this week. But, when they came back Monday, the holes were exposed again, making them wonder if the guy had come back and did it again.

"For what other purpose would they have to have a hole right in the front there that faces the play equipment?" said Smith. "Other than to watch the children, and so it's scary, it really is."

People at the park had no idea there was a potential prowler until Tuesday.

"It is disturbing, because you know that there's probably other things going on with that person, and we just don't want that type of person around our kids and ourselves," said Doyal.

Smith said park officials are keeping a close eye on the park and the portable toilet, and they want people to feel safe there.  

"If it happens again, then we're probably just going to have to end up taking the porta potty out, and we can't risk that any longer," said Smith.
 
If the person is caught, he could face indecent exposure charges. Smith said they're also looking into purchasing surveillance cameras to place throughout the park.

Police do not have a description of the man, so they're asking anyone who sees something suspicious in the parks to try and get a description and call Roswell police.