05:46 PM CST on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

By Chau Nguyen / 11 News

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Crime at Memorial park is back in the news.  But it’s not what you might think.

KHOU-TV

Police have arrested four people at the park in the last several weeks.

There is an increase in police patrols there, but not because anyone has been attacked.

Officers are trying to prevent public lewdness and some of it is happening right out in the open along Picnic Lane.

Riding through Memorial Park’s Picnic Lane loop is popular among bicyclists.  But it is also a hotspot for illicit rendezvous.

Houston Police Officer Kenny Cech took 11 News into the woods next to the bike loop and next to an abandoned restroom.

He showed where he arrested two men having sex just last Sunday—All happening in broad daylight.

Cech said he doesn’t know why this is happening at Memorial Park.  “Parks in general attract people of this type,” he said.

According to HPD, for every arrest made they are more incidents they can’t catch.  And often times it’s the park patrons who are the witnesses.

The latest arrests came after a father and his 8-year-old son caught the men in the act.

In all, police arrested four people in the last several weeks, which is disturbing news for those who enjoy the park.

“I think it’s pitiful,” said John Holstead, walker.

“It’s kind of scary,” said Rezena Gordon, walker.

“I was coming up the trail here and that’s where I saw them, Cech said.

Officer Cech wants to expose these latest arrests because Memorial Park is a family park and lewd acts are not welcome.