A Schuylkill County man is facing indecent exposure and lewdness charges after a store clerk says he was masturbating in their store earlier this year.
Back in March, State Police-Schuylkill Haven say they were approached by two representatives of Adult Shop 61, in North Manheim Township, regarding an incident at their store earlier in the month.
The clerk at the store said a man – later identified as Nicholas Carusella III, 41, of Cressona, entered shortly after 9 p.m. on March 8. After he entered the store, Carusella went to the front counter and asked about lubricants. In response, the clerk offered him a free sample of a lubricant.
Carusella then reportedly rubbed the lubricant on his hands. The clerk offered Carusella a towel to clean his hands but he reportedly said he didn’t need it and would just use his underwear to wipe it off.
After saying that, Carusella then reportedly went toward the back of the store. The clerk began watching Carusella on a store surveillance camera. It was at that point the clerk says they saw Carusella’s exposed genitals and it appeared that he was masturbating.
The clerk approached Carusella and ordered him to leave the store, which he then did.
Carusella then reportedly got into a silver SUV and left the parking lot, which is off Route 61-South, between Pottsville and Cressona.
Police were able to obtain an image of Carusella’s registration plate on the back of his vehicle, which eventually led to his identity.
A more thorough review of the store surveillance footage showed that Carusella, before he began masturbating in the store, used a product called Canyon Bolsom Shower Gel, which was marketed as a lubricant. Carusella reportedly is seen pumping the gel multiple times into his hands before beginning his illicit activity in the store.
The bottle of shower gel he allegedly used was pulled from a store shelf, police say
On April 9, police say they showed up at Carusella’s home in Cressona to conduct an interview. Police say the silver SUV seen leaving the store on surveillance footage was parked in a lot near his home.
After knocking, police say Carusella’s mother answered the door. Police say they were there to speak to her son about an ongoing investigation. The mother reportedly then asked police, “Is this about what happened at the Adult Shop?”
She then got her son to come to the front door to speak to police but Carusella reportedly refused to answer any questions regarding the incident.
Police have charged Carusella with indecent exposure and open lewdness, both misdemeanors, as well as summary counts of disorderly conduct and retail theft. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1 before District Magistrate Judge AJ Serina.
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