SHREVEPORT, La. — Two men were arrested early Tuesday morning after police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle, part of what law enforcement officials say is a broader crackdown on public lewd behavior occurring in neighborhoods across the country.
According to the Shreveport Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Marshall Street area during the early morning hours after a resident reported activity inside a parked vehicle that raised concern. Officers conducted a brief on-scene investigation and arrested Robert Cheatham and Quincy Thomas. Both men were charged with one count of obscenity.
Under Louisiana law, obscenity includes the intentional exposure of genitals or other intimate body parts in a public place or an area visible to the public when done with the intent to arouse sexual desire, appeal to prurient interest, or in a manner considered patently offensive. The statute also covers participation in or engagement in explicit sexual conduct that, when judged by contemporary community standards, is deemed offensive and lacking serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Police said both suspects were taken into custody without incident.
The arrests come as law enforcement agencies nationwide report an uptick in complaints involving public sexual activity in vehicles, parks, apartment complexes, and residential streets. Police departments in multiple cities have recently increased patrols and enforcement in response to resident concerns about safety, exposure to children, and quality-of-life issues.
In a statement, Shreveport police emphasized that reporting suspicious behavior remains critical.
“The Shreveport Police Department reminds the public that suspicious activity should be reported promptly and appreciates the community’s continued cooperation in keeping neighborhoods safe,” the department said.
Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances leading to the arrests. The case remains pending as it moves through the legal process.
