City worker charged with flashing jogger

September 23, 2014 1:30 pm

A Fall River DPW worker is off the job. The city put David Gasperini, 35, of Westport on unpaid leave after he was charged with exposing himself to a female jogger while in a city truck.

Police say the Fall River sanitarian was on the clock last month when he made lewd comments to an unsuspecting jogger and then exposed himself to her.

“You expect these people to behave according to the laws and respect other people but I don’t think you can count on that any more,” said Maria Aragao who lives nearby.

The jogger told police she had just passed St. Patrick’s cemetery and was near the intersection of Highland Ave. and Herman St. when Gasperini flagged her down for directions. When the woman got closer to the unmarked city truck he allegedly had his pants unzipped, according to court documents obtained by ABC6 News.

Gasperini’s attorney spoke to ABC6 by phone. Patrick McDonald says his client has been with the city for a long time and describes him as a family man and a devoted husband. McDonald says this is a case of mistaken identity.

Those who live nearby are upset by the accusations. Aragao says it could have happened to any one of her four daughters.

“They all go jogging and walk different times of the day— sometimes late in the afternoon,” she said. “I’m concerned. I’m going to let them know and be more careful,” she said.

McDonald says the defense will prove their client wasn’t in the area at the time. Gasperini was arraigned in Fall River District Court shortly after the incident was reported. He was released on personal recognizance and is due back in court next month.