Is smiling suspect the St. Helens flasher?

ST. HELENS, Ore. – More than two weeks after police set out to find a St. Helens flasher, they say viewer tips helped bring him in.

Ian Thomas Rushing was arrested at the St. Helens Police Department around 8 p.m. Feb. 2. The charges stem from allegations of public indecency and sexual abuse at the Cascade Cleaners in St. Helens. 

Rushing is 27 years old. He lived in a St. Helens apartment unit about five blocks from the laundromat. Today he sits in Columbia County Jail.

Witnesses said the incidents began Jan. 11 when a worker at the laundromat on St. Helens Street was closing up shop. A man reportedly grabbed the female employee from behind. When she pushed him away, he reportedly exposed himself and ran out of the building.

"Numerous tips, generated by news media coverage of the incident(s), were reviewed by St. Helens Police Detectives," according to a St. Helens Police press release. "Rushing was identified by two callers based on his general description, including a decaying front tooth and silver late-model mini-van."

Rushing was contacted after surveillance teams identified him traveling in a silver 2000 Dodge Caravan mini van near his apartment. He agreed to speak to investigators, "during which time he admitted his involvement in at least one of the incident(s)," the St. Helens Police release reports.
 
He faces charges of public indecency, sex abuse III and a probation violation. His bail was set at $20,000. 

The probation violation requires a mandatory appearance before the judge. Rushing is not expected to be eligible for release until his court appearance.