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By Lookout Staff

August 1 – A Santa Monica Fire Captain was arrested late Wednesday afternoon for indecent exposure when he was caught playing with himself at the amusement park on the pier, police said.

Fernando Padilla, a 19-year veteran of the Santa Monica Fire Department, was detained by Pacific Park security guards who placed him under citizen’s arrest.

“Witnesses told officers they observed Padilla expose and manipulate his genitalia, while seated on a bench inside the amusement park,” said Sgt. Renaldi Thurston, the Police Department spokesman.

When officers arrived, they recognized the suspect as Padilla, a paramedic captain at
Santa Monica Fire Station #5 at 2450 Ashland Avenue in Ocean Park, Thurston said

Padilla, who was president of the Santa Monica Pony League at Los Amigos Park, was off duty and not in uniform during this incident, police said.

The officers transported Padilla to the Santa Monica jail, where he was booked for indecent exposure and lewd conduct, Thurston said.

Padilla has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation.

Anyone with additional information should call Santa Monica Police Department Detectives at 310.458.8451 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Watch Commander at 310.458-8427 24 hours a day.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).