Rancho Cordova Mechanic Accused Of Working On Himself During Test Drive

RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) - A mechanic taking your car around the block isn't at all unusual, but it's what this mechanic is accused of doing that landed him in jail and out of a job.

CBS13 talked to Rancho Cordova woman who witnessed the disgusting act. That mom says she was walking up Zinfandel Drive when she turned and saw Klifton Knowling, 33, and she says he wasn't testing anything but her gag reflex.

"I was disgusted," mom Alexs said. "That was gross."

She was still in disbelief Thursday after what she says happened while walking her kids to school earlier this week.

"He has all of his stuff hanging out, playing with with himself," she said.

The stranger began to follow her in a white SUV as she walked on Zinfandel near Mitchell Middle School. She says the man wasn't just exposed - he was masturbating.

"He's like 'Do you want play?' I said 'Excuse me? I have my kids here,' and he said it again."

After a block, Alexis grabbed her phone, and that's when the man drove off. But she was quick to think.

"Luckily, I got the license plate of the car he was driving," she said.

And what she would find out even shocked her. Sacramento County sheriffs deputies say they would go straight to the car owner's home, but "the owner told us that her vehicle was being worked on and directed us to the shop," sheriff's spokesman Deputy Jason Ramos explained.

The shop is Purrfect Auto Repair just blocks away. Inside, they'd find Knowling, a mechanic just back from a test drive.

Alexis, was able to identify him and Knowling would go from working on cars to working on getting out of jail.

CBS13 went into Purrfect on Thursday and spoke to the manager, who said Knowling no longer works there.

"Yeah, I heard about it, but I don't think it's all true, but who knows?" the manager said.

Alexis is just glad he was caught.

"I hope he's definitely fired," she said.

According to the sheriff's website, Knowling, who was arrested Monday, was still in jail on Thursday on a parole hold in addition to the misdemeanor indecent exposure charge. He's scheduled to be back in court Aug. 20.