Man arrested after allegedly exposing himself near Bob Jones Trail in Avila Beach

Police are trying to determine if a man arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly exposing himself to passersby while his young daughter was in the backseat is the suspect sought in a similar incident two weeks ago.

At about 10:25 a.m., a sheriff’s deputy responded near the intersection of Avila Beach Drive and San Juan Street in Avila Beach to a report that a man was masturbating in his parked car.

The driver, identified as Eric Manuel Salinas, 29, of Guadalupe, was soon arrested and booked into County Jail on suspicion of child endangerment, annoying or molesting a child, and indecent exposure in a public place. He was no longer listed in custody Thursday afternoon.

According to a news release, several women reported that they were walking on the Bob Jones trail when they noticed the parked car with its passenger side door open and an overweight man sitting in the driver’s side masturbating.

When one woman yelled out, the man allegedly began to drive away with the passenger side door still open. A witness was able to get a partial license plate number, the Sheriff's Office said.

Minutes later, a deputy noticed a car matching the description and pulled it over. During the stop, the deputy saw a young girl, later identified as Salinas’ daughter, seated in the back seat without a child safety seat, according to the news release.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla said sheriff’s investigators are working with San Luis Obispo Police Department to determine if Salinas is the suspect in a similar incident on Los Osos Valley Road on Jan. 14.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Man arrested after allegedly exposing himself near Bob Jones Trail in Avila Beach."