News: Man charged in Carowinds exposure case

Posted at 1:08 PM EDT (1708 GMT)

Jul. 25th, 2008 -- In an update to a previous ThrillNetwork story, a Rock Hill, SC man who witnesses say was touching his private parts while located near one of the wave pools at Carowinds has been arrested and charged with indecent exposure and public masturbation.  

Dennis Allen Dart was arrested around 11 p.m. Wednesday, then released on $1,000 bond.  His arrest follows an investigation that lasted more than a week.

Todd Rikard was at the water park with his fiancée, their children, and other family members when their children came over and said a man was touching himself. The family members -- six in all -- said they saw the man exposed and didn't like the way he was looking at other children.

Rikard went to get security, but said they didn't act fast enough or even question Dart about the incident. Rikard confronted Dart near the entrance. He was detained briefly but not charged in the incident.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman said authorities at the park should have called them sooner.

The park straddles the line between North and South Carolina, so there were originally some questions about jurisdiction, a Carowinds spokesman said.

Dart has a lengthy criminal history, including several convictions for impaired driving in both Carolinas.

For more information visit The Charlotte Observer.