Ames Police arrested one man and are searching for another in connection with two separate incidents of sexual abuse this week at Abbie Sawyer Elementary School, 4316 Ontario St.

Paul Nobiling, 23, 1011 Kellogg Ave. #2, was arrested Monday evening and charged with indecent exposure. Police allege that Nobiling exposed his genitals to several children at the Sawyer playground about 6:30 p.m. Monday, said Sgt. Randy Kessel, public information officer for the Ames Police Department.

Kessel said Nobiling is still in police custody. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Another incident occurred the next day, when a parent notified police that a man drove near Sawyer School after hours Tuesday with pornographic photographs taped to his window, Kessel said.

There have been no arrests made in this case, and there is no description of the suspect, he said.

Although both incidents occurred in the vicinity of the Sawyer School, Kessel said police do not believe they are related.

W. Ray Richardson, deputy superintendent for the Ames School District, said area schools are very concerned with the safety of their students and are alerting all teachers in the district of the incidents.

“We want all our buildings on alert,” Richardson said. “We’re going to make sure our staff knows.”

Richardson said a letter for parents was sent home with students on Wednesday to inform them about the incidents and to request their help in keeping a closer eye on who is associating with their children.

“Our goal was to alert this community, school staff and parents that we’re going to watch more closely until the end of the year,” he said.

Richardson said he is advising parents to tell their children to walk straight home from school and not to talk to strangers. He also said the letter was a way to remind parents that if their children are playing on school property after hours, they are playing unsupervised.

Police are also stepping up patrolling efforts near Ames schools, Kessel said.

“We will investigate anything suspicious,” he said.

Kessel said police have not had any other recent reports of indecent exposure or exposing children to pornography before this week’s two cases.

“Hopefully, that particular problem is taken care of,” he said.