A beach outing on Cocoa Beach’s North Atlantic Avenue turned disturbing yesterday when, police say, a 69-year-old man from Pennsylvania exposed himself to a child. Authorities identified the suspect as Ray Torralbes, who was taken into custody after bystanders flagged down officers. He now faces a lewd and lascivious exhibition charge.
According to WESH, investigators say Torralbes approached the child, asked what hotel the child was staying in and the room number, then opened his pants. Officers responded to reports along North Atlantic Avenue, and a nearby resident directed them to Torralbes down the street, the arrest report states. Torralbes told officers he had been going to the bathroom and denied intentionally exposing himself, according to the report.
As reported by WFTV, the incident happened at about 11:23 a.m. near the 1600 block of North Atlantic Avenue and involved a 7-year-old victim. Witnesses chased the man after the exposure, pursuing him as he ran west across the roadway, and officers later found him walking on Jamaica Drive and detained him. Detectives say he initially gave them a false name and was booked on a second-degree felony count of lewd and lascivious exhibition and a misdemeanor charge for giving false identification.
The Cocoa Beach Police Department told WESH that Torralbes has two prior public lewdness charges in New York. Police say he told officers he lives in Pennsylvania and was in Florida visiting family and friends. Arrest paperwork shows he was issued a $500 bond. Police have not released a court date or further booking details as the investigation continues.
What the charge means
Under Florida law, intentionally exposing sexual organs in the presence of someone under 16 can be prosecuted as lewd or lascivious exhibition, and that subsection is classified as a second-degree felony. Florida statutes outline the offense and related provisions. A second-degree felony can carry years in prison and substantial fines, and factors such as prior convictions or the victim’s age may affect potential penalties.
Local context
Cocoa Beach police have handled similar indecent-exposure cases at beachside parks in recent years, and local coverage of prior arrests highlights why officers say witness reports and video often make or break these investigations. Reporting on earlier incidents at Lori Wilson Park and other area access points shows law enforcement routinely asks the public to share tips, photos, or footage to help build cases, according to Space Coast Rocket. Residents and visitors say staying alert helps officers respond more quickly when something seems off.
Cocoa Beach police are asking anyone with information or video of Monday’s incident to contact Detective Sergeant Payne in the Criminal Investigations Division at 321-868-3344, WFTV reported. The department also urged caregivers to keep a close watch on children at busy beach access points and to report suspicious behavior immediately. Authorities say the investigation remains active and are asking anyone with relevant information to come forward.
