Police used security footage to identify and arrest a homeless man who has appeared naked in public multiple times. (photo courtesy of YouTube)

A 51-year-old homeless man who was repeatedly seen naked in public in the neighborhoods around La Brea Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard and allegedly committed other crimes is in custody after being arrested on Sept. 6 and booked for multiple counts of lewd conduct and indecent exposure.

Police believe the suspect, Sean Rowan Barnes, also known as Dushuan Barnett, suffers from mental health and addiction issues. Barnes was arrested on Aug. 25 for allegedly burglarizing a garage in the 1300 block of South Redondo Blvd. and stealing clothes and tools. He later entered the backyard of a nearby residence, where officers found him naked. Barnes was booked for misdemeanor burglary and trespassing and was released on a citation pending a court hearing – which is routine for people accused of non-violent, low-level offenses, authorities said. He returned to the neighborhood near La Brea Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard and was seen naked again by residents, said Detective Brent Hopkins, with the LAPD’s West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail.

“After Mr. Barnes was arrested on Aug. 25, the neighbors around there started talking and came forward. It was the kind of thing where it had gone on for a while and many people saw him, but no one had made a police report up to that time,” Hopkins added. “Once they came together and formalized the crimes in police reports, unfortunately Mr. Barnes had been released from jail on his own recognizance in early September and while we were putting the case together, he returned and the lewd conduct continued.”

Barnes is now being held on $50,000 bail for seven counts of lewd conduct and indecent exposure.

“On Sept. 6, during the early morning hours, we got two new lewd conduct calls about him trespassing on people’s properties and taking his clothes off,” Hopkins added. “We arrested him and he has been held since. He had the previous burglary charge, which allows us to keep him off the streets while the new charges are filed.”

Hopkins did not know if the suspect has a connection to the neighborhood or why he returns to the same community around South Redondo Boulevard. Barnes does not approach people, but his appearing naked is illegal and offensive, Hopkins added. Police have taken reports from at least seven residents in the area and are asking anyone else with information to call investigators at (213)473-0447.

“From what people in the neighborhood have told me, they just want him to get help and to stay out of the area,” Hopkins said. “It’s unfortunate it took something like this, but we are certainly glad that they were good citizens and brought this to our attention.”