The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is once again warning visitors to behave themselves at DJ Wilcox Preserve, a public nature spot in Fort Pierce, after receiving new reports of inappropriate behavior there. The warning comes months after a string of arrests at the preserve involving elderly men accused of exposing themselves to undercover detectives.
“Apparently, we need to talk about D.J. Wilcox Preserve again,” the sheriff's office wrote, according to CBS12. The agency said it received reports of inappropriate behavior at the preserve and warned that it could again enforce laws there. Deputies reminded visitors that detectives know the area well and that any resulting arrests become public record.
A Pattern Dating Back to Last November
The renewed warning follows a series of arrests near Old Dixie Highway in November 2025, when undercover detectives went to the preserve to investigate complaints of lewd and lascivious activity. According to the sheriff's office, two elderly men were arrested after allegedly exposing themselves or propositioning an undercover detective, and both were charged with exposure of sexual organs.
Those two men were identified as Claude Higgins, 82, and Dallas Freeman, 87, per FOX 13 Tampa Bay. The outlet reported that the sheriff's Special Investigations Division was sent to DJ Wilcox Preserve after ongoing complaints, and that undercover detectives said both men approached them within minutes of arriving.
A follow-up operation at the preserve led to the arrest of a third man, 83-year-old Robert Kusher of Port St. Lucie, who was also charged with exposure of sexual organs. The station's report notes that foot traffic was noticeably lighter during that second sweep, suggesting word of the earlier arrests had already spread through the area.
Deputies' Message: Watch Wildlife, Not Each Other
In describing the purpose of the preserve, the sheriff's office has been blunt about what it wants visitors to do there instead. The agency has said DJ Wilcox Preserve is for wildlife watching, not wild behavior, according to the same account.
The sheriff's office also used pointed language in its latest public message, writing, “Please don't make us turn you into content,” and adding, “Enjoy the preserve. Do not become the wildlife.” The agency's latest message also said detectives know the area well.
Residents looking to track the status of any pending cases can search records through the St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, which allows users to view case documents, court costs and upcoming court dates for most cases dating back to 2008.
