What started as a regular meal at a West Mifflin Denny’s turned into something far more unsettling yesterday, when an arrest warrant was issued for a former employee accused of exposing himself to customers inside the Lebanon Church Road restaurant. Investigators have identified the man as Zachary Hiles and say he was fired from the location after the incident. One woman reportedly bolted from the dining area to her car, and police say Hiles has not yet been taken into custody.
How investigators say it unfolded
According to WPXI, investigators say Hiles sat in a chair near the restroom and began touching himself while three female customers were dining. The station reports that before the alleged exposure, Hiles made comments to the women. After reviewing the case, officers applied for an arrest warrant.
Manager and customer reactions
When officers arrived, the restaurant manager told them Hiles had a history of making inappropriate comments or doing inappropriate things and that he had already been fired, WPXI reports. One disgusted customer summed up her reaction to the whole episode bluntly: “I’ll never eat there again. I promise you that.”
Legal stakes
Under Pennsylvania law, indecent exposure, defined as exposing one’s genitals in a public place or in a place where others are present, is addressed at 18 Pa.C.S. § 3127 and is generally charged as a misdemeanor, with more serious grading possible if minors are involved. The statute focuses on whether the conduct was likely “to offend, affront or alarm,” a standard prosecutors will have to weigh as they evaluate any charges; see 18 Pa.C.S. § 3127.
Where it happened and what police want
The Denny’s at the center of the case is located at 2200 Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin. The West Mifflin Borough Police Department operates an online tip portal and warrant board and is asking anyone with information or video related to the incident to send it through the department’s site; see West Mifflin Police for tips and updates.
What’s next
Formal court filings could follow once officers locate and arrest the suspect, and people who live and work nearby say they want clear assurances about safety at the restaurant. This story will be updated as police or prosecutors release additional details.
