Man Accused Of Assaulting People In North Park & Exposing Himself

NORTH PARK (KDKA)- A man is behind bars, accused of assaulting people and exposing himself in North Park.

Police initially received a call back on Feb. 23. A woman says a man was running on the trail at North Park, screaming obscenities at people, trying to pick fights and exposing himself.

The woman claims she was walking in the park with her husband and 4-month-old son. She says the man screamed obscenities at the family, then started pushing her husband in the chest. He challenged the husband to a fight and then slapped him in the face.

The woman says after that, the man stuck  his hands down his pants and exposed himself.

Three days later, police spotted a man matching the description of the suspect. They followed Jason Damon to a Giant Eagle, where he did a little shopping. They were able to obtain his license information and where he lived.

The family was able to pick Damon's picture out of a photo lineup.

The next day, police arrested Damon and charged him with simple assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Kim Cato and Joni Perry run North Park daily.  They say they've encountered 30 year old Jason Damon there.

"He runs by us...he talks to himself while he's running by, he's sworn at us directly before," Perry said. "I think it's disturbing and I think it's part of the whole mental illness issue that we have going on in this country and I really believe that he needs to be in a mental health center, not in jail."

"We all questioned...what did he just say? You know, because it's not screaming it's just under his breath," Cato said.

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