HOLYOKE — Police are searching for an unidentified man who two teenage girls say indecently exposed himself to them as they were walking to school on Thursday morning.
According to Holyoke Police Lt. James Albert, two teenage girls were walking to Opportunity Academy at 8:50 a.m. when they were approached by a man driving a blue Honda Pilot with no license plates on High Street and Worcester Place.
Albert said the man called out to the girls, who are 16 to 17 years old, and asked for directions to the highway. As the girls approached, they realized the man was not wearing any pants and was masturbating. The car is believed to have traveled on Cabot and Maple streets and was not observed again.
The girls arrived at school and reported the incident to staff who contacted police, Albert said. Although they were “very shaken and scared,” the girls were not injured, he said.
The man is described to be in his 40s, with blonde or dirty blonde hair, wearing a plaid shirt and no pants. Police currently have no suspects, Albert said.
Albert said the Holyoke School Department is aware of the incident and assisting with the investigation. Additional patrols will be added to the area and officers are canvassing for video evidence, Albert said.
Anyone with information relating to the incident is encouraged to contact the Holyoke Police detective bureau at (413) 322-6940.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.