South Bay man arrested on suspicion of making ‘inappropriate gestures’

MOUNTAIN VIEW — A 25-year-old Sunnyvale man was arrested on suspicion of making “inappropriate gestures” at a pair of young children Tuesday in downtown Mountain View, police said.

Around 3:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Franklin Street for a report of suspicious circumstances, according to the Mountain View Police Department.

Witnesses described two identical incidents in which a man approached two children, ages 4 and 6, and made inappropriate gestures at them before being chased away by witnesses, police said. The man did not touch or injure either child.

Officers found the man nearby and detained him. After witnesses identified him as the man who made the gestures, he was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of contacting a minor with intent to commit a lewd act and annoying or molesting a child.

He remained in custody Friday at the Elmwood Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

Detectives are searching for additional potential victims and witnesses, police said.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Lauren Riffle at 650-903-6356 or lauren.riffle@mountainview.gov.