Man arrested at after-school program

When a man apparently under the influence of drugs exposed himself at an after-school-care program at a Corona del Mar community center on Tuesday, supervisors quickly subdued him and led the kids out of harm’s way before police arrived, authorities said Wednesday.

When police officers arrived at the center at 5th and Iris avenues, they arrested Joel Pizano, 26, of Monrovia on suspicion of felony indecent exposure and booked him at Newport Beach Jail.

At that time officers learned there was a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held on $20,000 bail.

The man entered the center, where 14 children were present, and started behaving erratically, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Evan Sailor said. Supervisors sprung into action when he began to unbutton his pants — they ganged up on him and herded kids out of the room before he fully exposed himself, Sailor said.

“I believe our staff reacted in a very strong, positive and protective way,” said Wes Morgan, Newport Beach’s interim director of recreation and senior services.

Morgan would not release the names of the staff involved, citing confidentiality issues.

The three staff members present noticed something was wrong with the man immediately, and that he was clearly not a parent, Morgan said. When he started acting erratically, they got him under control very quickly, he added.

“One of the individuals had pepper spray on their keychain,” he said. “With one or two quick sprays, he was basically subdued.”

Sailor could not confirm that detail.

Pizano was under the influence of a controlled substance, Sailor said, adding that when officers interviewed the man, he said he entered the center to use a payphone.

Morgan, who arrived soon after it happened, said the whole incident took only a few minutes.

“Everything happened so fast,” he said. “Fortunately for the civilian staff it didn’t last long, and their actions proved crucial.”