A Delhi man was arrested Monday after he was spotted masturbating near Denair Junior High School, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested 50-year-old Delhi resident Elias Orellana Ruiz for annoying or molesting a child.

A student was walking home from the junior high school on Monday. Ruiz is alleged to have been masturbating while driving by the student. He was in a brown 2002 Chevy Tahoe SUV.

The child was not injured and ran away to alert an adult. School staff reached out to the sheriff’s office to make a formal report with patrol deputies.

Detectives furthered their investigation by reviewing video surveillance and vehicle registration information. Ruiz matched the provided description and was the vehicle’s registered owner. He was also formally a registered sex offender as of three years ago, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives arrested Ruiz in Riverbank driving the same car without incident. He was then booked into the Public Safety Center for felony annoying or molesting a child. He is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail.

If anyone has a similar instance to report, involving the same car or suspect, they are urged to call 209-552-2468.