Police are waiting for a warrant to be approved for the arrest of a man who was caught on camera exposing himself and masturbating on a crowded SEPTA bus.
A Temple University Ph.D. student, who did not want to be identified, told police she was sitting on a SEPTA Route 23 bus on Friday when the man sitting next to her began to masturbate in front of her. The woman then she says she took out her phone and recorded the man in the act.
“You know this is on video, right?” the woman asks. “You really wanna do that? I have it on my phone.”
In the video, the man continues to expose himself, ignoring the woman’s questions.
“Are you crazy?” she then asks. “Do you see how many people are on this bus? Do you see a child behind you? You are disgusting.”
The video then shows the man turning towards the woman.
"Are you serious right now?" he asks. “I’m standing here the whole time. Why wouldn’t you just say something?"
“Does someone need to tell you not to touch yourself in public on a bus?” the woman replies.
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The video then shows the man leaving the bus as more people confront him.
Both the woman and the bus driver later notified police. The woman was also interviewed by officials with the Special Victims Unit who are handling the investigation.
The video quickly went viral after it was shared on the People of SEPTA Facebook page.
Joanna Logan, a passenger on the Route 23 bus, was shocked when she watched the video.
"Shocked, surprised and disgusted," Logan said.
Logan, who has a daughter, says she's most concerned about the fact that a young girl was sitting behind the man.
"It's just a repulsive idea all together," said Charles Brown, a Temple University student. "I don't understand why someone would do something like that."
Police say they know the man's identity but have not yet made an arrest. Detectives submitted an affidavit and are waiting for a warrant to be approved.
The Route 23 bus runs from Chestnut Hill to South Philadelphia. It is currently the longest bus route in the city.
