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An American man has been charged with public indecency after allegedly swinging his penis like a helicopter at two women.

Shawn Harvell, 34, was arrested Tuesday after reportedly waggling his manhood at the women on a street in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Police reports also say he told the women he had a gun, and that they were "coming with him."

One of the women flagged down a passing police car and told officers Harvell had approached her from behind and grabbed her by the arm.

She said he then took his penis out of his trousers and was "swinging it around in a rotary helicopter motion."

As police approached him, Harvell started to run away but after a brief chase, police said officers caught up with him trying to get into his car.

Harvell has been charged with offences including public indecency, resisting law enforcement, criminal confinement and battery.

Criminal confinement is a felony, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

He told officers he was trying to settle a "financial dispute", but according to police reports the woman said she had never met him.

In addition to his embarrassing arrest, he was also charged with parking his car too close to a fire hydrant.