Multiple victims indicated
A 29-year-old Sarasota man has been charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than 18, plus four counts of indecent exposure, after he allegedly exposed himself on Lido Beach, the Sarasota Police Department has reported.
Daniel Patrick Mensch, of 5723 Magnolia Ridge Place, was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. on Aug. 30, his Probable Cause Affidavit says. The incident was reported at 6:47 p.m. on Aug. 29, the affidavit notes.
He was released from jail on Aug. 31 under $15,000 total bond, his booking record shows. The bond advisory document that 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Dana Moss signed orders him not to return to Lido Beach, The Sarasota News Leader found.
His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 26, court records note.
During the evening of Aug. 29, a Police Department news release says, officers were contacted by a family on Lido Beach regarding Mensch’s behavior. The following day, Aug. 30, “Community Action Team officers located Mensch while patrolling the beach and arrested him without incident.”
The release points out, “Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Rob Morrison at 941-263-6086.”
The Probable Cause Affidavit regarding Mensch’s charges says that the officer who responded to the Aug. 29 call about the incident spoke with the victims, all of whom “provided corroborating statements” that Mensch had exposed his genitals to them “in a lewd or lascivious manner.”
Moreover, it indicates that the victims were able to provide photographs and video of Mensch, which they taken. (Portions of the document have been redacted.)
Further, the affidavit notes that a member of one family had seen Mensch “exhibiting odd behavior” the entire time the family members were at the beach. That person told the officer that “Mensch appeared to be walking around ‘without a purpose.’ ”
The officer provided the victims with brochures about their rights, the affidavit adds.
Then, just before 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, the affidavit continues, two other officers were patrolling the area of 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key, which is the primary access to the beach. They observed Mensh, the affidavit says. Having been made aware of the earlier incidents, it adds, they detained him.
After Mensh was read his Miranda Rights, the affidavit says, he made a statement. However, that information was redacted, as well.
A News Leader review of prior 12th Judicial Circuit Court cases involving Mensch found only traffic-related offenses, other than the charges related to the Aug. 29 incidents.
For example, in May 2020, he was charged with participating in drag racing. Among other counts were speeding, driving while license suspended, driving with no muffler or an improper muffler, and failure to display his vehicle’s registration.
The most recent case prior to the Aug. 29 incidents came in April 2022, court records show. He was cited for driving 118 mph in a 45 mph zone after being stopped at 12:51 a.m., the document notes. Mensch was traveling south on Superior Avenue in Sarasota at the time, it says.