Man charged with exposing himself to mall shoppers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Presbyterian Hospital officials suspended a nurse's aide after he was arrested and charged with exposing himself to shoppers at Northlake Mall.

Police arrested 23-year-old Randy Firms on Friday afternoon at the Macy's at the mall.

A Macy's security officer reported him to an off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer working security.

Firms posted bond and is out of jail.

Presbyterian officials said, "The safety of our patients is our top priority," and added that they are taking steps to investigate.

Shoppers found it hard to believe.

"That's crazy," Jacqueline Bent said. She said she used to take her sons to the playground in the mall. "I can't imagine walking around and having them see something like that. That's kind of scary though... You know, it's kind of scary to me as a mom."

On Facebook, where Firms goes by his first and middle name, Randy Lenell, he writes that he attended West Charlotte High School before working at Presbyterian.

Eyewitness News sent him a Facebook message and emailed him but he did not reply.

Macy's public relations officials did not return calls.

Karen Ekwue, who takes her 17-month-old son and 4-year-old daughter to the playground, said it's hard to know what places are safe.

"I think it's kind of gross," she said. "It's just sad because it's a family environment."

WSOC