New Lenox Man Nabbed In Forest Preserve Sex Sting

A 55-year-old New Lenox man was charged with public indecency after police found him having sex in the woods, police said. 

According to Tracy Phillips, a lieutenant for the Will County Forest Preserve Police, an undercover officer from the department had been stationed at Hammel Woods in Shorewood on July 26 to investigate a series of complaints about sexual activity occuring in the forest.

Police said Andrew Mekstan, of New Lenox, was having public sex and fled the scene in his truck when police arrived. 

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While racing away, he allegedly drove around a locked forest preserve gate, into a ditch and then into a driveway at a mobile home community, Phillips said.

The truck bottomed out when it hit the asphalt driveway and caused an undetermined amount of damage.  Although police did not catch up Mekstan that day, police said they saw him again Aug. 16 in Hammel Woods.

The undercover operation was still ongoing, and police recognized him. He was arrested then and charged with fleeing or attempting elude a police officer, public indecency and fleeing an accident involving destruction of property.

Mekstan was taken to Will County Jail and posted bail, Phillips said.  

Phillips said seven people were issued tickets for a misdemeanor public indecency violation that day, pointing to and ongoing problem.

The Will County Forest Preserve Police are attempting to grapple with heightened activity in the realm of public indecency.

"We're trying to figure out a way to prevent it from happening," she said. 

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