PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland police cited a man on suspicion of disorderly conduct after officers received reports Thursday he was inappropriately touching himself on the Springwater Trail near OMSI.

At around 6 p.m., a passer-by called 911 and said the man, later identified as registered sex offender Brian Letiecq, was pleasuring himself on the trail. Officers responded and then cited and released him.

Police said they could not arrest Letiecq on more serious charges because there were no victims in the area to confirm the caller's claims. Although court records show he's a registered sex offender, police said suspicion of disorderly conduct was not enough to book him into jail.

Letiecq could not be reached for comment Friday. He is listed in the national sex offender database, but Multnomah County Parole and Probations said he's not under their supervision. As a result, he's left to roam free.

"I think he should be put away," said Steve Mason, who was using the trail Friday. "That's something that you don't do in public. If you're going to do it, you do it behind closed doors."

Julie Strongston, who also uses the Springwater Trail, said jail likely won't be the answer anyway. But she does believe Letiecq should be monitored so he can get help if he needs it.

"I'm not saying it's good what he's doing, but I think that just arresting him is not going to get him not do it again," Strongston said. "I think he actually needs to get psychological help."

Parole and probations officials declined to comment on the specific case. However, they said a common reason registered sex offenders in the county won't be under their supervision is because they committed their crime so long ago that they have maxed out their supervision.

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