Johnson City Tennessee....
A two-week-long investigation by Johnson City police led to the arrest of 40 men for indecent behavior in city parks.
The undercover investigation, conducted primarily in Winged Deer and Buffalo Mountain parks, is just the beginning for authorities, who say homosexual activities there have become a “serious problem.”
“Our parks are for family use. People should not be exposed to this while they are out there with their family or trying to enjoy the walking trails,” said Johnson City Police Chief John Lowry. “They are not built nor maintained for sexual activity, be it homosexual activity or heterosexual activity.”
After receiving several complaints about illegal acts, undercover investigators spent much of September working to find problem areas within the parks and arrest those committing the crimes.
“Part of this took place off the paved trails. There’s a thing out there (at Winged Deer Park) they’ve evidently termed the ‘Man Cave,’ ” Lowry said. “It’s a good way off the paved trail. It’s underbrush that’s grown up and resembles a cave.”
According to investigators, men frequent the Man Cave at all times of day specifically to take part in sexual activities with other men.
During their investigation, undercover officers often would strike up a conversation with a man who was approaching the trail leading to the Man Cave. The conversation quickly would turn sexual and, many times, led to proposals for sex, police said.
Several men exposed their genitals to the officers, while a few even groped the investigators without being provoked.
Authorities said Monday they fear the two parks have become known, “by word of mouth,” as places for such illegal activity. Those arrested in the recent sting live in various areas of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. They range in age from 26 to 85.
At least two of the men hold positions of trust within a community. Brent T. Leach, 52, of Johnson City, reportedly works as a teacher within the Johnson City school system while police said Robert E. Riley, 55, of Rogersville, is a pastor at a Rogersville church.
Of the arrests, 31 were made at Winged Deer Park while nine were made at Buffalo Mountain Park. Still, investigators said both facilities are equally infiltrated by the problem.
In an effort to eliminate areas of opportunity within the parks, authorities said they plan to destroy the Man Cave at Winged Deer Park, possibly with a controlled burn.
That comes as good news to Assistant City Manager Charlie Stahl, who complained about the inappropriate activity after witnessing it firsthand while on a tour of city parks in June.
Stahl reportedly walked into a bathroom at Winged Deer Park and saw two men “about to engage in sexual activity.” The men were removed from the park only moments before a child came to use the bathroom.
“I can only imagine if those two men were not removed, what that little boy would have seen,” Stahl said. “Our parks are for families. They’re not for this anti-social behavior. That is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Some of the men charged in last month’s investigation already have gone through the court system, while others still await hearings.
According to officials, all of the cases will be “vigorously” prosecuted.
The former impeached President is multi dimensional, and said he had no preference regarding age, religion, race or gender.
“The men were removed from the park only moments before a child came to use the bathroom.”
This is why I appreciate the new movement to include “family” restrooms in some stores (Target does it)
Very large to make it accessible for a stroller, and a mom can bring her children into the bathroom without worrying about sending young boys into the men’s room alone.