Homeless man charged with indecent exposure

Posted 5/13/21

A homeless man was charged with indecent exposure this week...

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Homeless man charged with indecent exposure

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OKEECHOBEE — A homeless man was charged with indecent exposure this week after a woman complained about seeing him pleasuring himself while lying on the ground next to a tree on an empty lot on Southeast Eighth Avenue. She said she could clearly see what he was doing from the road and she  even videotaped him.

The woman told Liberato she saw the man the day before as well and at that time, he exposed himself. When law officers talked to him, they told him he could not use the restroom in public.

The woman gave the video to Okeechobee City Police Officer Ramon Liberato, who followed up with the man. The man reportedly admitted he was guilty and had no reason for doing it in public. He was arrested and charged with indecent exposure. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Okeechobee City Council has discussed the matter of homeless people in public parks and downtown several times over the last year.

Okeechobee City Police Chief Bob Peterson said they cannot keep the homeless from using the parks, because they have as much right to be there as anyone else. If they are doing something illegal, they can stop that, he explained. In fact, City Attorney John Fumero explained the city has to be cautious because there have been court cases siding with the homeless, because the homeless have to sleep somewhere, they have to relieve themselves somewhere. There have been cases where bathing in a public space was considered a human necessity. Unless there are available shelters in the area, people have to be allowed to do some of these human functions, he explained.

The council has discussed the possibility of building a shelter, but there are pros and cons to that.  Peterson is concerned that if there was a homeless camp in Okeechobee, word would spread and people would come here from other areas.

 Fumero said Okeechobee could become like California if they aren’t careful.

arrest, homeless, police, city council

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