Police say a routine bathroom trip at Opry Mills turned into a scare last week when a 56-year-old man allegedly exposed himself to two girls inside a women’s restroom. According to an arrest affidavit, one child bolted from the bathroom in a red dress, crying, while another juvenile walked in and saw the man, a scene that has again put child safety at the busy Opryland shopping and tourist hub under the microscope.
Christopher West, 56, was arrested Friday and charged with public indecency and criminal trespassing, according to court records. Filings show West has since bonded out of jail, and a judge is set to review the case on August 21. The mall and the victim’s mother told police they plan to press charges, WSMV reports.
An arrest affidavit cited by WSMV states, "Juvenile victim stated that she walked into the women’s restroom and saw the individual playing with his genitals and then saw a little girl in a red dress running out of the bathroom crying." West denied any indecent conduct when questioned and told officers he had only been "attempting to fix his pants that were falling down," according to the same affidavit. Mall security informed police that it wanted to prosecute West for criminal trespassing and banned him from the property, the report says.
Where It Happened
Opry Mills, part of the Opryland retail and entertainment corridor north of downtown, mixes outlet shopping with family attractions, dining, and tourist traffic. The center promotes family amenities and a youth-supervision policy that limits when minors can roam the mall without adults, according to Simon. School field trips, travel groups, and vacationing families are a regular presence in the complex, which helps explain why any incident involving children there tends to rattle parents and staff.
What The Charges Can Mean
Tennessee’s indecent exposure and public indecency rules appear under T.C.A. §39-13-511 and are typically charged as misdemeanors, with the possibility of tougher penalties when aggravating factors are involved, such as a victim’s age or a history of similar offenses. Criminal trespass is covered at T.C.A. §39-14-405 and is generally classified as a Class C misdemeanor in state law. For readers interested in the legal fine print, statutory language and recent amendments are available through the Tennessee General Assembly and the text of T.C.A. §39-14-405.
Other Recent Cases In Nashville
The Opry Mills arrest is one of several public-exposure cases to surface around Nashville in recent months, including a June arrest tied to an alleged exposure at a neighborhood park. That park incident and related cases have drawn attention to community unease over lewd conduct in public spaces, with local coverage tracking how neighbors and parents are responding. Recent examples include cops busting a 66-year-old after lewd exposure at Dragon Park and reporting from WVLT on separate exposure allegations involving both public areas and private homes.
How To Report Tips
Metro Nashville Police are investigating this latest case. Anyone with information is asked to call the department’s non-emergency line at 615-862-8600 or submit tips through local Crime Stoppers channels. The Metro Nashville Police Department website lists multiple options for non-emergency reporting and follow-up contacts for those who want to share information.
