CASE UPDATE: Man Previously Arrested for Lewd Acts Arrested for Violating Probation

On May 13, 2024, officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) arrested Joseph Simmons, a 43-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, for committing a sexually motivated crime while on probation for multiple similar incidents. Simmons had deposited ejaculate on the door handle of a woman’s vehicle, then video recorded her reaction to discovering the bodily fluid. This occurred in the busy parking lot of a retail shopping center in Santa Rosa. Because of that incident, Simmons’s probation was amended to include his prohibition from several retail businesses where he has historically committed many of his crimes.

On August 22, 2024, an officer was dispatched to a retail store in the 1900 block of Santa Rosa Avenue to a report of a man loitering in the women’s clothing section, secretly photographing unsuspecting women as they shopped. Loss prevention agents had noticed the suspicious behavior while monitoring store activity. The loss prevention agents quickly recognized Simmons from an internal security bulletin and contacted SRPD. Simmons left the store before the police arrived.

SRPD officers went to Simmons’s residence in the 3600 block of Cypress Way to further investigate this incident and ultimately arrested Simmons for violation of probation per 1203.2(a) PC, and violation of a court order per 166(a)(1) PC.

The SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team (DVSA) is actively investigating this most recent incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the DVSA tip line at 707-543-3595.

Santa Rosa Police Case number 24-10016.

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.

**ORIGINAL RELEASE**

Man on Probation for Lewd Acts is Arrested After Tampering with a Woman’s Vehicle and Recording Her Reaction

On Monday, May 13, 2024, at approximately 10:45 a.m., an adult female shopping in Coddingtown Center contacted police to report suspicious, sexually motivated behavior by a male unknown to her. The female victim returned to her vehicle and noticed her driver’s side door handle was coated in what she believed to be bodily fluid. As she looked around, she saw a Caucasian adult male nearby recording her reaction on his phone before fleeing the area in a black Prius. The alert victim provided responding officers with the suspect’s location and pointed out the vehicle to the officers first to arrive at the scene. 

Two officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Downtown Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle to investigate this incident further. The officers contacted the driver, Joseph Michael Simmons, a 42-year-old resident of Santa Rosa. Simmons is currently on probation in Sonoma County for a 2023 conviction for committing a lewd act in public. During the investigation, the officers searched Simmons’ vehicle and located a used condom. Based on additional information learned during their investigation, the officers determined Simmons’ likely deposited ejaculate on the victim’s vehicle and waited in the area to observe the victim’s reaction.

Simmons’ was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail for the following offenses:

10852 VC - Vehicle tampering

242 PC - Battery

1203.2 PC - Violation of probation

On November 19, 2020, Simmons’ was sentenced by a Sonoma County judge for multiple incidents of misdemeanor indecent exposures committed while on parole. Simmons was on parole for an unrelated felony conviction in 2013. For several months in 2020, community members forced to witness Simmons’ indecent exposures took to social media to try to identify him, as well as provide details and warnings to others. An investigation conducted by SRPD identified Simmons as the offender in those incidents, leading to his 2020 conviction for 5 counts of indecent exposure and one count of attempted indecent exposure. 

The SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team (DVSA) is actively investigating this most recent incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the DVSA Tip Line at 707-543-3595.

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 24-5723.

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.