Following an investigation by the Major Case Unit, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Palm Coast man who detectives determined drove up to a teenage girl, exposed himself, and masturbated in front of her.
On December 26, 2025, deputies responded to the R-Section of Palm Coast. Upon arrival, the victim told deputies that she was walking along Rickenbacker Drive when a black Kia hatchback pulled alongside her and the driver exposed his genitals to her and began to masturbate. The victim then stated the vehicle drove off before returning and slowing beside her a second time.
During the second encounter, the driver, who the victim described as a white male with a reddish-brown beard, then made a sexually explicit comment toward her about his prior actions, asking her if she liked it.
After speaking with the victim and her parents, deputies immediately canvassed the area. With assistance from FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center and Criminal Intelligence Unit, deputies identified the suspect vehicle and established a suspect, identified as 22-year-old Stephen Caputo of Palm Coast, who matched the description provided by the victim.
Although Caputo was not the registered owner of the suspect vehicle, investigation revealed he had been involved in a crash in the suspect vehicle weeks earlier.
The FCSO Major Case Unit took over the investigation. On January 8, 2026, detectives located Caputo at his workplace in Ormond Beach, where he agreed to be interviewed. During the interview, Caputo told detectives that he was off work on the day of the reported incident and had been out visiting people in Palm Coast before he traveled on Rickenbacker Drive as he was trying to “kill time before going home.” Caputo initially told detectives he may have been “fixing himself” but did not know anyone could see him. However, he later admitted that he decided to masturbate in his vehicle while driving.
Throughout the interview, Caputo provided detectives with details of the events that aligned with the victim’s account of the incident. Caputo further told detectives he did not know the age of the girl that he encountered and the incident was a one-time thing that he had never done before.
On January 9th, detectives obtained a warrant for Caputo’s arrest for lewd or lascivious exhibition by an offender 18 years of age or older in the presence of a victim who is less than 16 years of age.
The same day, the FCSO Fugitive Unit located and arrested Caputo at his residence on Riddle Drive in Palm Coast.
“What an incredibly perverted thing for somebody to do,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend the victim who reported it; our Community Policing Division deputies who quickly began the investigation; and our Major Case Unit detectives, Real Time Crime Center analysts, and Criminal Intelligence Unit as they all played an important role in getting this pervert off the street and into the Green Roof Inn.”
Caputo was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on a $7,500 bond.
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