ATLANTA (AP) – A Georgia sheriff was arrested after he exposed himself to a police officer in an Atlanta park and then led the officer on a foot chase, according to a police report.
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, 54, faces charges of indecency and obstruction of an officer.
Attempts by The Associated Press on Monday to reach Mann at phone numbers listed for him were unsuccessful, and the sheriff’s office did not return phone messages seeking comment. Mann told WSB-TV that the arrest was a misunderstanding and that he would clear his name.
An Atlanta police officer patrolling Piedmont Park spotted Mann around 11 p.m. Saturday in an area “known for sexual acts after dark,” the report says.
Mann was rubbing his genitals through his pants and then exposed his genitals and masturbated as he walked toward the officer, the report says. The officer stood next to a tree to hide the reflective stripe on his uniform and allowed Mann to get within 10 feet (3 meters) of him before shining his flashlight on him.