Posted on 08/12/2005 10:12:14 AM PDT by digger48
Scruggs, president of the Howard-Tipton County Central Labor Council and business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 873, was arrested Wednesday during the three-day sting. He was charged with indecent exposure, a Class A misdemeanor, after allegedly exposing himself to an undercover officer, Whitehead said.
A two-time Sagamore of the Wabash Award recipient, an honor bestowed by Indiana governors for distinguished service to the state, Scruggs has been active in the community for years.
He earned his second Sagamore in 2002 from Gov. Frank O'Bannon. The first time he received the honor was in 1994 from Gov. Evan Bayh.
This paper usually doubles as the UAW newsletter, it really pained them to nail THIS guy. Kept this part of the text in the back of the paper. Even directed you to the wrong page for the 'continued story'
union thugs
Was the officer a man or woman?
All men!!!
"Expose himself"....is that the best a Liberal can do?
10 men busted in sex sting
By MIKE FLETCHER
Tribune staff writer
Friday, August 12, 2005
Civic leader Artie Scruggs was one of 10 men arrested this week by authorities for alleged sexually illicit activities at Wildcat Creek Reservoir Park, off County Road 500 East.
A sting operated by Kokomo police and officers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources targeted men who frequent the park looking for sex, said KPD Lt. Donald Whitehead of the criminal investigations unit.
Park sting:
Those arrested in the park sex probe were:
Arden C. Scruggs, 61, Kokomo, public indecency
Gene T. Sage, 57, Converse, public indecency
Charles A. Booth, 61, Jupitor, Fla., public indecency
John R. Reed, 54, Kokomo, public indecency
James Craig, 57, Noblesville, public indecency
Bobby E. Short, 64, Kokomo, battery
Jeffery S. Rice, 49, Cicero, battery
Joseph Brubaker, 74, Kokomo, public indecency
Kenneth Halsne, 38, Sharpsville, public indecency
Pete Courtsal, 41, Kokomo, public indecency, resisting law enforcement and battery on a police officer
"These guys have been coming out here for a long time," Whitehead said Thursday, as he monitored undercover officers from across the reservoir.
"I've been familiar with this park for most of my life," Whitehead said. "This has been going on as long as I can remember, and I've always wanted to do something about it."
Hidden behind the bushes and trees and inside vehicles, the men, ranging from 38 to 74, were exposing themselves and approaching other men for sex, Whitehead said.
Charges ranged from public indecency to battery.
Arrests are made by undercover officers posing as fishermen and park visitors when they are approached by would-be suspects.
A conversation usually begins with the suspects that ultimately turns sexual, the detective said.
Once the suspect either exposes or touches himself, the officer makes the arrest. Suspects that touched or grabbed the undercover officer were charged with misdemeanor battery, the detective said.
Whitehead said the suspects drove in and out of the park several times during the three-day operation looking for a possible companion.
"It's a slow process," Whitehead. "Sometimes they talk to them for a couple hours before they do anything."
Outdoorsman John Martino, who works for the Kokomo Parks & Recreation Department, was surprised and glad to hear about the police operation.
"I'm glad to see police take this type of active role," Martino said. "That park is designed for kids and families. I hate to see it ruined by these types of individuals and activities."
An afternoon thunderstorm Thursday chased most of the people from the park area, but after the rain, the perpetrators were back, Whitehead said.
One was arrested during the brief storm, he said.
The last suspect arrested, Pete Courtsal, 41, Kokomo, fled police and threw an object at the officer before being captured. He was arrested on charges of public indecency, resisting law enforcement and battery on a police officer, Whitehead said.
Scruggs, president of the Howard-Tipton County Central Labor Council and business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 873, was arrested Wednesday during the three-day sting. He was charged with indecent exposure, a Class A misdemeanor, after allegedly exposing himself to an undercover officer, Whitehead said.
A two-time Sagamore of the Wabash Award recipient, an honor bestowed by Indiana governors for distinguished service to the state, Scruggs has been active in the community for years.
He earned his second Sagamore in 2002 from Gov. Frank O'Bannon. The first time he received the honor was in 1994 from Gov. Evan Bayh.
This year, Scruggs received Indiana University Kokomo's 2005 Dr. Martin Luther King Exemplary Leadership Award.
Scruggs serves on the boards of United Way of Howard County, the Salvation Army and other community agencies.
The arrests come in the wake of widespread investigations of similar activity at state parks.
Last week, a Logansport man and two Peru men were among 11 people arrested in an investigation into illicit sexual behavior at state parks.
Charles F. Turner, Logansport, 67; Dale A. Knott, 62, Peru, and James L. Kunkle, 57, Peru, were arrested on a misdemeanor offense of public indecency for exposing themselves at Mississinewa Reservoir, north of Kokomo, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
After those arrests, Whitehead contacted Steve McClain of the DNR in Bedford, who assisted during the first day of the operation.
Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com
He apparently had trouble keeping his "Sagamore" concealed behind his Wabash.
Aha, I had a feeling. That makes it even more disgusting.
I hesitated to post the details, see #6
someone ought to break their bones....
This year, Scruggs received Indiana University Kokomo's 2005 Dr. Martin Luther King Exemplary Leadership Award.
Scruggs serves on the boards of United Way of Howard County, the Salvation Army and other community agencies.
my favorite part!
a tiny pic of scruggs holding a trophy:
http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:VcXuNnlvHSYJ:www.iuk.edu/external-relations/ocm/news/mar05/Scruggs_Diesman.jpg
a nice article written by scruggs :
http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:W229mb5shDIJ:wwwqa.ivytech.edu/kokomo/news/MLKarticle.htm+%22Artie+Scruggs%22&hl=en
The DNR here in Indiana have been busting some of these perverts the last several weeks. The citizens here have known where they hang out but it took the DNR years and years to start busting these queers.
The DNR had started to increase their law enforcement division by a huge amount. I believe it started during Clinton's "100,000 more ecops on the street" routine.
At least they are busting these exhibitionists instead of harrassing everyday people for things like seat belts and other nonsensical stuff. The DNR law enforcement even formed a "cave rescue unit". That's funny because none of them are experienced cavers. They tried to strongarm some caving groups to get cave locations around the state. I was one that was personally intimidated by them.
Things like this wouldn't happen if we'd just let them marry, you know. /liberal non-thinking disengaged
Last time they had one of these busts, the front page was covered with the pervs pictures. That one included a clergyman, I believe.
This one was "below the fold" and the bulk of the article was on page 7, they directed you to page 8.
I've taken my lunch at this park on many occasions, a nice view of the lake. I never ventured "into the woods"! but now I guess all those empty cars weren't fishermen.
This has been going on at several public access sites further south for as long as I can remember.
later H.A. pingout.
It's also true that a conservation officer is the only state law enforcement official that can go anywhere in the state and arrest anyone at any time. Land, water, or air.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
