Mechanic accused of masturbating in client's car | Crime

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - A mechanic was arrested after exposing himself to a woman and masturbating in a client's car Monday.

Klifton Knowling, 33, of Sacramento was arrested at a car shop after the 25-year-old victim identified him, Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Jason Ramos said.

The victim was walking her kids to school on the 2300 block of Zinfindel when Knowling allegedly pulled up next to her in a Toyota SUV while masturbating and asked the victim if she wanted to play. Ramos said the woman called police and the man fled the scene.

The woman was able to provide deputies with a suspect description, the SUV's license plate and description.

Ramos said when deputies talked to the owner of the SUV; the owner said it was at the shop getting fixed. Deputies went to the car shop and found Knowling. He was arrested and booked into Sacramento County Jail.

The manager of Purrfect Auto Service, Richard Turnier, said Knowling has a wife and two children.

"He was a good guy. I've known him for a little while and nothing strange about him," Turnier said.

According to Turnier, the suspect was a lubrication technician at the shop.

"All I can say is we're really just here to fix your cars and do it right and like I say, the rest of us have families and one person doesn't reflect the whole shop," Turnier said.

Parents with children at Mitchell Middle School praised the woman's quick reaction.

"Especially when you have your kids with you, your first instinct would be to protect them and maybe freak out a little bit. But to be able to do that and get a license plate number is incredible for her," said Susan Schultz as she picked up her daughter at the school.

Knowling is still being held in the Sacramento County Jail.

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