Parents Concerned About Man Hanging Out Near Mall Playground In Norman

Norman Police are investigating a woman's report that she saw a man pleasure himself at a popular play area inside the Sooner Mall.

The woman also posted about her experience on social media and more than 3,600 people have shared that post to warn others. She said she saw the man playing with himself while he was watching children play in the indoor play center.

Parents were shocked to hear about it.

"Very concerning, I'm a mother of five and I would die if anything happened to my kids," said parent Crystal Price.

"I don't want any creepy people around where my grandchildren are playing," said grandparent Joan Litchfield.

The woman who reported the incident said it happened around 9:50 a.m. on Monday.

She did not want to go on camera, but posted about her experience on Facebook, saying: "ATTENTION PARENTS! I had a sickening experience today that has disturbed me to my core." The woman went on to explain that "there was an older man staring at a girl playing, and then put his hand in his pants."

The woman said it was obvious what the man was doing and that he continued even after noticing he was being watched. She said when she went to get security, the man left the children's area.

"That I thought was put in the mall to be able to have a place for the children, a safe place I might add, where the children can go and play and you don't have to be worried or concerned," added Litchfield.

The woman said security guards told her there were no cameras in the play area, which angered her and other parents.

"You would think out of every place in the mall that the children's place, the children's area, would have cameras," parent Fred Galarza told News 9.

The marketing manager for Sooner Mall, Jeannette Smith, said she cannot comment about whether the play area has security cameras, but says the mall is taking this investigation very seriously.

Smith added that the mall has a customized public safety procedure in place and the safety and security of shoppers is the top priority, especially when children are involved.

The witness said the man is in his late 60s to early 70s, thin, bow-legged, square jaw line, white hair and was wearing a ball cap.