HIGBEE BEACH – A Vineland man has been arrested and charged with lewd behavior in the Higbee Beach section of Lower Township, south of the Cape May Canal.
The Lower Township Police Department announced on Monday, Oct. 6, that Leonardo L. Medero, 44, was arrested after several lewd acts were reported to the department in August. Deputy Chief Donald Vanaman confirmed that Medero was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 1, by the Vineland Police Department.
Police said in a press release issued Oct. 6 that they were first notified of an incident in August, when a female victim reported an interaction with a man on Higbee Beach that made her feel uncomfortable. The man briefly left the area, but reappeared nude and committed a lewd act.
Another incident was later reported to the Lower police just a few days later. Two victims reported a similar incident involving a man committing a lewd act while they were on the beach at Higbee Beach. The victims in both of these incidents gave similar descriptions of the suspect, leading police to believe they were describing the same individual.
As a result of an investigation by the Detective Division, the suspect was identified as Medero, who was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of lewdness, a disorderly persons offense. He has been lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Center pending a court appearance.
Prior to 1999, Higbee Beach was reportedly a clothing-optional beach, but that image was challenged when a Lower officer cited a woman for topless sunbathing. The matter was challenged in court, but the judge ultimately ruled that towns could set their own rules regarding public nudity.
Gov. Christine Todd Whitman signed legislation in 1999 allowing Lower Township to enforce a ban on nude sunbathing. Lewd acts were already outlawed.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com, or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
