Police in Arlington County, Virginia, say they have arrested a cyclist accused of assaulting people walking on trails and flashing his butt at them.
David Marlowe, 55, was arrested at his home in Arlington on Sunday, police said Monday. He was charged with multiple counts of assault and indecent exposure, robbery, and felony possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
“Numerous tips” helped police identify Marlowe after the department shared photos of a suspect on Friday. Police say the investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information should contact them.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
Police received five reports of an aggressive cyclist who confronted pedestrians on trails in August. In one case, the cyclist yelled at a man and woman walking on Four Mile Run Trail and told them to stay on the right side of the yellow line. The man yelled back and the cyclist pulled down his shorts, exposed his butt and hit the man on the arm.
In a second case, a woman told police she was running on the Custis Trail when a cyclist sped up behind her, slapped her in the back of the head and yelled for her to move over.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
In the most recent case Aug. 29, a man and woman were walking on the W&OD Trail when a cyclist sped up behind them. The man yelled for the cyclist to slow down and the cyclist dismounted, confronted the man and hit him in the face. That couple got a picture of the man.
Another man sent News4 pictures of another alleged that appears to be the same man flashing people on the trail near Reagan National airport Aug. 13. Dean Aidehn said Marlowe hit, cursed and mooned people on the bike path.
“I saw him grab a minor’s breast,” Aidehn said. “I also saw him hit a senior citizen in the back of the head, and he was exposing everybody.”
He said he made his report to U.S. Park Police.
“I’m glad he’s off the streets so he won’t be able to assault anyone anymore,” he said.
Karen Bate said the picture brought back unpleasant memories of a man who used to scream at her women’s running group a few years back.
“We were two-by-two on our side of the line, few were always really careful because it’s a bike trail, and this guy, who I recognized the minute I saw the story, would come flying by us,” she said. “He would often elbow one of us and scream, ‘Get out of the way!’”
Bate said the arrest was welcome news.
“It’s such a relief,” she said. “We were all just saying that we hope with that great photo that is so clear that someone would recognize him, tell the police who he was and finally get that guy off the trails.”
“I was actually at the Shirlington dog park, and there were people talking about this guy, watch out for this guy on the path that’s been harassing people,” said Giedre Slivinski, who walks on the path.
Marlowe was held in the county jail without bond. Details on his case were not immediately available in online court records, and it was not clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Arlington police want to hear from anyone else who may have had an encounter with the cyclist.
