LAKELAND, Fla. -- A registered sexual offender has been arrested after being accused of violating his probation Sunday evening.
According to an arrest report, a witness saw a man hiding behind shrubbery and 'lurking' by a building near a Lakeland playground by the intersection of S. Lake Avenue and E. Orange Street. The witness told police she saw him 'acting suspiciously' and watching the children from a shadowy area near a restroom.
The man was watching children and masturbating at the park, according to a second arrest report. He is accused of masturbating about 45 feet from the children at the park with what appeared to be an ankle monitor on.
The witness took a picture of the man and yelled at him as he ran away.
Police found a vehicle close by with a license plate registered to sexual predator Danny Frank Torres Valentin, who was already on probation for lewd and lascivious exhibition of a victim under 16 years old. His probation officer was contacted. And, the probation officer confirmed it was him -- based on the witness photo.
Valentin is now charged with violating probation for being within 300 feet of children. He has been booked at the Polk County Jail.
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