MMA fighter accused of indecent exposure in Virginia Beach
A professional mixed martial arts fighter is accused of being the "serial flasher" who preyed on women for months at a Virginia Beach shopping center, according to TV station WTKR.
The suspect, 24-year-old Imani Immanuel Smith, of Virginia Beach, is facing six counts of indecent exposure and four counts of masturbation or simulated sex acts in public, the station reported.
Smith has denied the accusations, posting "I am innocent," on his Facebook page, which says he's originally from Oakland, California. The same post also sarcastically thanks those who "threw dirt on my name and tried to make a mockery of this embarrassing situation."
"Because of your hateful and disgusting post(s), I’ve been more motivated than ever before to continue to be a great man, a great fighter, and even more important a great father to my son," he posted on Facebook late Monday.
Investigators say multiple women reported to police that a man posing as a lost motorist was exposing himself in the parking lot of the Landstown Commons Shopping Center in Virginia Beach, reported TV station WWAV. He would first draw women over to his car by asking for directions, the station reported.
"Several" women identified Smith as the suspect, WTKR reported. A partial license plate was also provided by some and it matched Smith's vehicle, the station reported.
Smith is known in MMA as "The Resurrected" and has a record of six wins and eight losses, according to a Tapology web page about his career.
His last fight was June 7, according to Tapology. He is ranked 22 out of 134 active Virginia Amateur Welterweights and 131 of 830 in the southeastern United States, says the site.
Bond was set at $5,000 and Smith was ordered to stay away from the Landstown Commons Shopping Center, reported WTKR.
