Utica Man Charged With Public Lewdness

A Utica man is facing charges after an incident at the Sangertown Mall.

New Hartford Police responded to the mall parking lot between Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's after a mall security officer reported  a man had exposed himself and committed a lewd act inside of his car.

58-year old Richard Gratch was charged with public lewdness.

Police say an investigation revealed that Gratch would allegedly drive to Sangertown on a regular basis and watch women walk to and from the mall while he committed a lewd act.

He was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after an officer found a small amount of pot in his vehicle.