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Police: Gainesville Man Exposes Himself To Children At Fanning Springs

Edward Hopwood (Photo from Levy County Sheriff's Office)
Edward Hopwood (Photo from Levy County Sheriff's Office)

A man was arrested Sunday after authorities believe he exposed himself to children at Fanning Springs State Park in Levy County.

Edward Hopwood, a 64-year-old Gainesville resident, was at the park when he began showing children his private parts while they were swimming around him underwater, according to an arrest affidavit from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.

A grandfather told police that he was watching his grandchildren swimming with goggles and noticed Hopwood following them, according to the affidavit. The four children started to swim in the direction of their grandfather and told him, “That man is nasty."

Authorities spoke to both the grandparents and the grandchildren about Hopwood, according to the affidavit. One of the children said that he was playing with his sister when Hopwood had pulled out his “thing” and was touching and playing with it.

The same child also said that, at one point, the man got close to his sister, which is when the children went to tell their grandparents.

Records indicate Hopwood remained in the Levy County jail as of Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office couldn't immediately be reached, so further details weren't available.

Sara is a reporter for WUFT News and can be reached at news@wuft.org or 352-392-6397.