Authorities have charged an unhoused man who was repeatedly seen naked in public in the neighborhoods around La Brea Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard with 14 criminal counts. The suspect, Sean Rowan Barnes, 51, remains in custody pending a court hearing on Oct. 17.

Detective Brent Hopkins, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail, credited residents for banding together and coming forward to share information with police. The suspect, who is homeless and has an extensive criminal history, was seen naked multiple times in August and early September in the area around the 1300 block of South Redondo Boulevard, but no one made a police report. Barnes allegedly burglarized a garage on Aug. 25 and was arrested after officers found him naked in the backyard of another home. After being released pending a court hearing, Barnes was seen naked again in the neighborhood on Sept. 6 and was arrested after residents called police. He has remained in custody since.

Hopkins said detectives conducted an exhaustive investigation, contacting numerous residents in the area. Some provided information about crimes Barnes allegedly committed. As a result, detectives presented an expanded case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which on Oct. 3 charged Barnes with eight counts of committing lewd acts in public, four counts of residential burglary or attempted residential burglary, one count of burglarizing a garage and one count of brandishing a weapon.

Hopkins said Barnes never approached or attempted to harm anyone, but he trespassed on private property and committed lewd acts in view of people. Security camera footage provided by residents showed Barnes walking unclothed around the neighborhood, including in front yards and driveways. The weapons charge stems from a witness who told police they once saw Barnes with a Taser or stun gun.

Hopkins said the situation illustrates the importance of always reporting crimes, as many people in the area saw Barnes but did not call police because they figured he is a homeless man suffering from mental illness. After officers were called because of the Aug. 25 burglary, they determined the problem had been ongoing for weeks.

“We always tell people to call us. We didn’t know about this problem until people notified us, and then we were able to take action,” Hopkins said. “This is a huge win, and it was brought about by these neighbors. They came together and helped each other and helped us, and the D.A.’s office took notice and [filed charges]. That’s what brought a stop to this.”

Barnes is currently being held on $60,000 bail in the Twin Tower Correctional Facility, pending an Oct. 17 court hearing.