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Two Palm Coast men were arrested Thursday afternoon on separate charges of indecent exposure following an undercover operation at Graham Swamp Preserve, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Safe Neighborhood Unit put deputies on the preservation area’s walking trails at 1125 Old Kings Road N.

In the two incidents, the men approached undercover deputies and initiated conversation before exposing themselves.

Leslie Colombo, 70, of 34 Philmont Lane, was arrested at 1:09 p.m., after he began a conversation with the deputy and then exposed himself, asking the deputy to walk back to the parking lot with him. Once at the parking lot, Colombo again exposed himself and asked the deputy to leave with him for sexual activities elsewhere. At that time, he was taken into custody.

Charles Bitzer Jr., 68, of 9 Barkley Lane, was arrested at 1:10 p.m. when he exposed himself and began masturbating in front of another undercover deputy following a brief conversation that took place on the trail.

“This was an excellent operation by the Safe Neighborhood Unit,” Flagler County Sheriff James Manfre said in a statement. “These operations will continue at Graham Swamp as long as there is a need. Our goal is to create a safe environment for visitors to the preserve.”

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