Nassau County police are looking for at least two nude men wanted for scaring women in and around the Massapequa Preserve after a suspect was arrested for a similar incident over the weekend.
A woman was jogging in the preserve when she saw a man naked from the waist down running southbound along the path near Parkside Boulevard in Massapequa Park at 3:22 p.m. Sunday, police said. About 10 minutes later, another man committed a similar act on Linden Street, police said. Both incidents came after Andrew Parrucci, 57, of Amityville, was arrested for public lewdness in connection with a third such case last week.
“These are very, very serious crimes,” Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun told reporters at a news conference Monday outside the preserve. He said Bureau of Special Operations officers are beefing up patrols in the park as a result.
Parrucci had “aggressively walked toward the victim without any clothing on” while the 39-year-old woman was jogging on the preserve path just north of Jerusalem Avenue at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, police said in a news release. When a bicyclist approached, the suspect fled into the woods, police said. He was reportedly naked from the waist down and wearing only a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up.
Seventh Squad detectives arrested Parrucci on Friday. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday, when a judge released him without bail but ordered him to undergo pre-trial probation.
In the first case on Sunday, the victim described the suspect as a 5-foot, 10-inch tall black man between 40 and 50 years old with a skinny build, black hair and salt-and-pepper facial hair. He was wearing a dark green zip-up sweatshirt.
In the second case on Sunday, police are searching for a white man with dark skin wearing only a gray hooded sweatshirt that approached another woman in the park. Neither said anything to the victims.
LeBrun reminded joggers not to enter the park alone or wear headphones so they can be aware of their surroundings.
Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
