Suspected ‘chronic masturbator’ nabbed at Seattle University

A Seattle man caught rushing toward two teens in the nude near Seattle University has been charged with indecent exposure.

Charged with indecent exposure for the fifth time, Anthony P. Hawkins is alleged to have been caught naked and masturbating in an East Cherry Street parking lot after charging toward a 19-year-old young woman.

Beyond that, though, Seattle police claim Hawkins, 35, may have been masturbating in public around the First Hill campus for some time.

“Hawkins matches the description of a chronic masturbator who has been plaguing Seattle University for at least the past few weeks,” Detective Donna Stangeland told the court, noting that Hawkins was ranting nonsensically when police arrived.

On April 5, two teens were walking near the intersection of East Cherry Street and 14th Avenue East when Hawkins rushed toward them with his hands raised above his head, Stangeland told the court. Hawkins, the detective noted, was entirely nude.

The teens ran with Hawkins following and ultimately reached a Seattle University call box, from which they summoned campus security, according to charging documents. Hawkins wandered into a nearby parking lot.

An ambulance crew in the area spotted Hawkins masturbating in the parking lot and notified police, who responded to the area and arrested Hawkins.

In custody, Hawkins allegedly said he wanted to have sex with “all these … women” that he sees in the area. Arresting officers noted that Hawkins appeared to be under the influence of drugs or mental illness.

A felony drug offender with 42 misdemeanor convictions in the past 13 years, Hawkins has now been charged with felony indecent exposure. King County prosecutors claim Hawkins was seeking sexual gratification at the time.

Hawkins remains jailed.

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Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.