Stranger Exposes Self After Offering to Help Lost Driver: Police

The 33-year-old woman was driving a 2009 Nissan eastbound on Merrick Road in Massapequa at about 11:40 p.m. on Sunday when she got lost and pulled over to ask the man for directions

A woman on Long Island says a stranger exposed himself and grabbed her around the neck after he offered to direct her to the Long Island Expressway and got in her car, police said.

The 33-year-old woman was driving a 2009 Nissan eastbound on Merrick Road in Massapequa at about 11:40 p.m. on Sunday when she got lost and pulled over to ask a pedestrian for directions, police said.

The man, who was walking near Forest Avenue, offered to show her the way to the Long Island Expressway, and got in the back of her car, according to police.

The woman continued eastbound on Merrick Road, then northbound on Ocean Avenue. She looked into the rearview mirror and saw the man had pulled down his shorts and exposed himself, police said.

When the victim pulled over, the suspect grabbed her around the neck, according to police. She began screaming and honked the car horn, which alerted a nearby resident.

The man got out of the car and ran away on Ocean Avenue.

Police conducted an extensive search in the area and could not find the suspect. He is described as about 19 to 23 years old, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. He was wearing a red shirt and a red baseball hat.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

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