NUTLEY — A 64-year-old Florida man was arrested Thursday after police said parents saw him masturbating in a car parked near the township middle school, police announced in a release today.

According to authorities, parents at the school reported seeing Jack Faria, 64, “gratifying himself” inside his SUV, parked outside the school at about 2:50 p.m. yesterday, during dismissal from school.

According to authorities, the man was parked on Franklin Avenue about 75 yards from the school. The area is “heavily congested” with kids walking home from school, police said.

Responding police interviewed parents about the incident, and later found Faria in Nutley and arrested him on criminal sexual contact charges, police said. He was later released after posting $2,500 bail, police said. A court appearance is pending.

Faria, who is originally from Nutley, has lived in Florida for over 20 years, police said. He was in town visiting a friend, authorities said.

Police Chief Thomas J. Strumolo, Jr. released a statement commending the responding officers.

“There is no greater concern than the safety of the residents in this town, particularly the children,” Mayor Alphonse Petracco said in a statement about the incident. “I want every parent that allows their child to walk to and from school to be assured that any one looking to exploit our children will be identified, arrested and prosecuted.”

A call to the school district was not immediately returned.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.