This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police say a 26-year-old Kansas City man faces a municipal charge of indecent exposure after parents reported seeing the man fondle himself while their children played just a few feet away.

The incident happened Wednesday at Hill Park.

"We need to protect our community from these sickos," said Stacia Martin, the mother who called police. "We can't stand for this."

It's every parent's worst nightmare: To see their children play in a park, and see another man watching too, while masturbating.

"He seemed a little out of place, with all the families that were down here playing," Martin said. "He was by himself. No other people with him."

When Martin brought her child to the playground at Hill Park on Wednesday, she immediately spotted a man nearby wearing a black hoodie, that she says looked "creepy." She and another parent took photos of the man with their cellphones. Police confirm he's the one in question.

Martin says the man's actions quickly confirmed her suspicions.

"The next time I looked over, he was in front, like in front by the playground standing," she explained. "That's when I noticed his hand wasn't in his sleeve any longer."

Martin says she saw the man fondling himself with about four young children playing nearby. She called her husband and then 911. Keith Martin says it was clear what the man was doing.

"He actually said he wasn't doing that," Keith Martin said. "And then he just stood there with a blank stare on his face. I told him he needed to leave before I hurt him."

Police found the suspect in another park nearby where more than 20 kids were playing. They say 26-year-old Zephaniah George had two outstanding warrants for indecent exposure from similar incidents dating back to 2014. They took George into custody and say he now faces a third municipal charge in the latest case.

Stacia says she was surprised to learn about the previous arrests.

"I'm afraid of what will happen next," she said. "If he will take the next step. That's why he needs to get some help. I prayed for him yesterday to get help that he needs. Because obviously there's something wrong with him."

Police tell FOX 4 News the Martins handled the situation correctly by calling 911, not taking matters into their own hands, and taking photos of the suspect for police. Police say these are municipal charges because a state charge requires a witness to report seeing the offender in public without clothing.