HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A man was arrested Thursday in Hollywood after a woman caught him masturbating in public, authorities said.

According to an arrest report, the woman called police about 1:30 p.m. and said that she saw a man masturbating in a van parked outside the Cove Apartments at 4300 Sheridan St.

The woman told officers that she saw the incident from her second-floor balcony and went down to confront the suspect, who was identified by police as Alexey Zubkov, 27, but he drove away and returned a short time later.

The responding officer said he confronted Zubkov and asked him if he knew why he was there.

According to the report, Zubkov replied, "Yes. The lady says she saw me jerking off."

Police said Zubkov asked the officer if he could explain himself, and claimed that he has a "very bad itch on his penis and wanted to get a good scratch," so he pulled down his pants to relieve his itch.

Police said Zubkov claimed that he didn't have his penis all the way out, just enough to scratch himself.

Police said the woman had a clear view of Zubkov's van from her balcony.

Because of her statements and his testimony, Zubkov was arrested on a charge of indecent exposure in public.