LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County man is accused of lurking naked around an apartment complex swimming pool that was packed with children.
Residents said they saw Russell Wakefield, 46, lurking, and that they were able to chase him down and hold him until police arrived.
Witnesses who were relaxing at the pool at Bristol Lakes Apartments in Mount Dora said they’re outraged over the incident.
According to a police report, witnesses saw 46-year-old Wakefield performing a sex act on himself a few feet away from where children were swimming.
“You’re there to hang out and have a good time, and you look over and you see something like that going on, that’s not something you want to see,” said resident Demetrice Brinson. “He was as naked as a jaybird.”
Witnesses told police they spotted the suspect hiding in a wooded area next to the pool and that Wakefield tried to run away when parents noticed what he was allegedly doing.
“He didn’t even have his pants up. He was running and he had his pants down,” said Brinson.
Bystanders called police while others ran after Wakefield.
They caught him and held him there until police got to the scene.
Residents said the suspect had no reason to be in the complex.
“He doesn’t live here,” said Brinson.
Reports said Wakefield has been convicted of 23 misdemeanor lewd and lascivious acts, and exposure of sexual organs.
He’s also faced four felony counts, including one of fondling a child.
Many of his past crimes happened in Pinellas County, but there was one case of indecent exposure in Lake County.
Wakefield, however, is not a convicted sex offender.
The State Attorney said he could not speak for the previous convictions, except for the one that happened in Lake County, which he said was a misdemeanor and not enough to land Wakefield on the registry.
Wakefield is being held in jail without bond.