Around 5:15 p.m. on September 4, a 39-year-old woman was walking down the sidewalk when she noticed a man sitting in a parked car. After she realized that the man was exposing himself and masturbating in the car, the woman immediately turned around and began walking the other way. To prevent her from escaping, Sergeant James Rainey Mason allegedly pulled up in front of her and parked his car while continuing to expose himself.
Afraid that Sgt. Mason could attempt to hurt her, the woman started taking pictures of the traumatic incident on her cellphone. When Mason realized what she was doing, he suddenly drove off but not before she took photos of him and his license plate.
After notifying the police, the woman showed the photographs to investigators from the San Mateo Sheriff's Office. By running his license plate and photo through the DMV database, investigators discovered that the pervert in the pictures was a San Jose police sergeant who had been with the department for 13 years. According to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the woman also identified Sgt. Mason through a photo line-up.
On Friday, Sgt. Mason was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and engaging in a lewd act. San Jose police spokesman Albert Morales confirmed on Wednesday that Mason has been placed on paid administrative leave.
"It's an unfortunate situation, and we are disappointed to hear about the allegations against Sgt. Mason," Morales stated.
Mason has posted bail and his arraignment is scheduled for October 14.
I remember learning that there isn't much difference between most cops and criminals... many of them come from the same neighborhoods and grow up together, though the racial angle does tilt towards the white races much more in terms of escaping the 'projects' path of social instruction and destruction, always hard to escape a black hole when one is too near, and most minorities in those hoods don't have family in positions of power to help them reach escape velocity. This cop thought nothing of this until the 'smart phone' situation arrived... then the classic Homeresque 'Duh!' and attempt to escape, which being a cop or anyone with a functioning brain, would know it's too late to do that.
I'm glad not to hear that he got out of the car and abused her, took her phone and drove off to destroy it. So, it seems he's not the type of cop that tends to violence with his initial reaction... nice wakeup call for him... and that cities police force... maybe... maybe not.... or most likely not, as they will probably inform the rest of the crew on this situation and how to evade it better, like most 'smart' criminals would have done.