A 56-year-old man, identified by deputies as William Fisher, is in custody after what authorities describe as a disturbing run of indecent exposure cases that rattled parts of Santa Rosa and Sebastopol this week. Neighbors and trail users reported a nude man masturbating, first in a backyard on the 6000 block of Walker Avenue and later along the Joe Rodota Trail, triggering a multi-day search. Deputies say they ultimately found Fisher hiding under a tarp at a homeless encampment and arrested him after he tried to bolt.
According to SFGATE, deputies first responded shortly before 10:45 AM Tuesday to a Walker Avenue home, where a resident reported a man exposing himself in the backyard. Later that afternoon, multiple callers reported a naked man on the Joe Rodota Trail between Llano and Sebastopol roads. Deputies returned to the Walker Avenue address around 6 PM, and the sheriff's office says the same man returned to the backyard the next morning, prompting deputies to bring drones into the search. Investigators later identified the suspect as Fisher and secured a warrant for his arrest.
Where the incidents occurred
The reported behavior spanned a quiet residential block in Santa Rosa and a stretch of the Joe Rodota Trail that connects Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. As reported by Patch, deputies and the Sheriff's Office Parks Unit searched both on foot and by drone before tracking the suspect to a nearby encampment. Investigators also released a photo of the suspect on social media and asked the public to share any tips that might help pin him down.
How deputies made the arrest
Authorities say they identified Fisher, 56, and ultimately located him at a homeless encampment Thursday morning, where he was discovered hiding under a tarp and arrested after attempting to evade deputies, according to SFGATE. Members of the Sheriff's Office Parks Unit assisted in the two-day operation, which played out along trail corridors and in surrounding neighborhoods. Officials say they suspect Fisher may be tied to additional unreported incidents and have released images as they continue to solicit information from the public.
Charges and bail
Fisher was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of indecent exposure and was being held on $175,000 bail, Patch reports. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff's dispatch at (707) 565-2121. No additional charges had been announced at the time of the arrest.
Trail safety and recent history
The Joe Rodota Trail has seen its share of trouble in recent years, including an attempted sexual assault in June 2024 that resulted in an arrest, according to The Press Democrat. That track record has prompted periodic enforcement and cleanup operations along sections of the trail as county officials try to keep the route safe and accessible for the public.
The sheriff's office says the investigation into Fisher's alleged actions is still active as deputies follow up on leads and encourage any additional witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Sonoma County Sheriff's dispatch at the number listed above.
