Man arrested for masturbating in book store

A man who has felony convictions for sex-related crimes was arrested last week on suspicion that he masturbated in the children’s section of Barnes and Noble in Huntington Beach, authorities said.

A man entered the store at the Bella Terra mall at 7881 Edinger Ave. on Feb. 23 at about 9 p.m., the Huntington Beach Police Department said in news release.

Witnesses told police the man was masturbating in the children’s books section and ignored them as they attempted to confront him. He eventually left after being confronted by a store manager.

Evidence collected at the scene as well as witness statements led detectives to identify the man as Bradley Meenahan, a homeless 51-year-old registered sex offender, the news release said.

He was arrested at a residence in Dana Point on Feb. 25. Police did not immediately specify the charges against him or how he was connected to the home in Dana Point.

Police said Meenahan is a transient who usually lives out of his van in the Venice Beach area.

He has numerous felony convictions for sex-related crimes and told police he has masturbated more than 20 times at random locations in Southern California within the last month.

Huntington Beach police are asking that additional victims and witnesses call the Huntington Beach police information hotline, (714) 375-5066. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call 1-855-TIP-OCCS.