Police Investigate 'Obscene Sexual Display' at Pentagon City Mall

The Arlington County Police Department is investigating an "obscene sexual display" reported at the Pentagon City mall, the latest in a rash of such crimes over the past month.

At about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the loss prevention manager of a retail outlet at the mall allegedly witnessed an unidentified man masturbating in the middle of a restroom while looking into a stall at someone, according to information police released today.

The bathroom is on the third floor of a store at the mall, on South Hayes Street, though police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck would not identify the name of the store.

"It's a known location where guys meet up to do things of a sexual nature, such as what happened (Thursday)," Sternbeck said. Men connect with one another online, and then plan to meet at the bathroom in the mall, Sternbeck said.

The man in the stall, along with another man who was by the bathroom door watching the act, met there Thursday for that purpose, Sternbeck said.

"It wasn't a random act," he said. "The guy in the stall knew the guy was out there doing his deed. This is a known meet-up location for people to engage in behavior like this."

After witnessing the display, the loss prevention manager went to call police. When he came back, the three men had fled.