Beach flasher throws sand at officer while exposing himself, Newport police say

Newport Beach police say they chased a flasher onto the beach and into the ocean Monday morning as he threw sand at an officer and exposed his genitals.

The incident started around 9:30 a.m. when a witness reported that a man was repeatedly exposing himself as he walked on the sidewalk along West Coast Highway near Superior Avenue, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

When an officer pulled up in his car, the flasher ran to Prospect Street, turned toward the beach and headed across the sand into the ocean, according to police.

The man “continued to expose himself and began throwing handfuls of wet sand at the officer,” Manzella said.

After a few minutes, more officers arrived and helped take the man into custody, according to police.

“Before being transported to jail, the subject spat on a witness who had reported him to police,” Manzella said.

Police identified the suspect as Tyler Ray Luna, 22, of Newport Beach.

He was booked on suspicion of resisting arrest, battery on an officer, indecent exposure and battery, Manzella said.