POLK COUNTY, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff's Office is cracking down on lewd activity by sending more undercover detectives to county parks.

  • Sheriff's Office cracking down on lewd acts
  • More undercover detectives being sent to county parks
  • Authorities want people to feel safe when going to the parks

On Thursday, Richard Kolari, 71, an Ontario man who spends time at his vacation home in Lakeland, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and soliciting. The arrest happened at Gator Creek Reserve, north of Lakeland.

Kolari exposed himself and asked the undercover detective if he liked snakes, according to an arrest affidavit. The word "snakes" was code for asking the detective if he wanted to engage in sexual acts, according to the report.

After Kolari was arrested, he told investigators he thought the detective would expose himself in return. Kolari also reportedly told investigators that wasn't his first time engaging in this type of activity in the park.

The report said Kolari told investigators that he's not a homosexual but just likes to look.

According to Sherrie Morgan with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, within the past year, 16 people have been arrested for soliciting lewd activity from undercover deputies in county parks.

"We've received a lot of complaints about this lately and that's why we're taking this very seriously," Morgan said. "We want to make sure that people can go to the park and feel safe and be able to spend time with their family so it's something we're cracking down on."

Richard Kolari, 71, of Ontario, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and soliciting. (Courtesy of Polk County Sheriff's Office)
Richard Kolari, 71, of Ontario, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and soliciting. (Courtesy of Polk County Sheriff's Office)