Woodburn Man Arrested for Exposing Himself to Teen Girls

Parents can protect their children from dangerous strangers by teaching them about strangers and suspicious behavior.

31-year old Mathew Gressel

(WOODBURN, Ore.) - On Nov. 4, the Woodburn Police Department responded to a report of a man that had reportedly exposed himself in front of two teenage girls, ages 15 and 13, in the driveway of the Woodburn Walmart.

The victims told police that an unknown male drove u p to them in his car and asked them for directions through an open car window. One of the teenage victim began to answer the suspect by the car window and saw that the male had his penis exposed out of his pants.

The two victims then ran away to their home on foot and the male then left the scene in his car.

Police officers were able to identify the male due to the use of video surveillance from the surrounding area and arrested 31-year old Mathew Gressel at his Woodburn home.

Gressel admitted to stopping to ask two girls at Walmart for directions to Highway 99E, which is a major highway that runs on the east side of town, and he also admitted that he did contact the girls because he wanted to pick up on them. Based upon the investigation, Gressel was arrested, cited and released from his home for public indecency.

The Woodburn Police Department wants to remind the public to have conversations with their family and loved ones with the following tips when being approached by a person not known to them:

1. If a stranger approaches your child. They do not have to speak to him or her. Never approach a stranger in a motor vehicle. Just keep walking. Do not accept candy or any other items from a stranger. Never walk off with a stranger no matter what he or she tells you.
2. Know where your children are at all times. Make it a rule that your children must ask permission or check in with you before going anywhere. Give your children your work and cell phone numbers so they can reach you at all times. Point out safe places. Show your children safe places to play, safe roads and paths to take, and safe places to go if there's trouble.
3. Teach children to trust their instincts. Explain that if they ever feel scared or uncomfortable, they should get away as fast as they can and tell an adult. Tell them that sometimes adults they know may make them feel uncomfortable, and they should still get away as fast as possible and tell another adult what happened. Reassure children that you will help them when they need it.
4. Teach your children to be assertive. Make sure they know that it's OK to say no to an adult and to run away from adults in dangerous situations.
5. Encourage your children to play with others. There's safety in numbers!

Additional information about crime prevention tips can be found at the National Crime Prevention Council at ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety/strangers.

Source: City of Woodburn