Johnson County, Ind.—
Department of Natural Resource officers arrested eight men this week on charges including public nudity and public exposure. DNR conducted a sting operation after they received tips from the public that men were meeting and having oral sex deep in the woods of the Driftwood fishing area and Camp Attebury on the Johnson County and Bartholemew County lines."We responded to public tips of illegal sexual activity gonig on here at driftwood," said Jeff Barker with DNR. "We put our plainclothes officers in here in unmarked vehicles."
Some of the suspects would approach the undercover officers in their cars and then tell them to meet them in a very remote area of the park. Barker said the men would then get and unzip their pants. The intent, police say, was to have oral sex.
"It's sick, it's nasty, keep it at home," said Rick Ozbun, who was out with buddies mushroom hunting at Camp Attebury.
John Stanley, 64, and Terry Barker, 51 both from Greenwood were caught having oral sex deep in the woods of Camp Attebury, said DNR officials. 75-year-old Merritt Harmon of Franklin was arrested for battery and resisting law enforcement. He reportedly touched an undercover officer between his legs. When Merritt was told the man was a DNR officer, Merritt resisted arrest and later said he was embarrassed and afraid for his wife to find out what he was looking for at the fishing park. DNR officials also learned Driftwood is listed a gay men's website as a hot spot to hook up. The men arrested include:
- Michael W. Lucas (47) of Columbus - Public Indecency, Public Nudity and Battery
- Charles H. Morton Jr. (42) of Hartsville - Public Indecency, Public Nudity
- Merritt W. Harmon (75) of Franklin — Battery, Resisting Law Enforcement
- John H. Stanley (64) of Greenwood - Public Indecency
- Terry W. Barker (51) of Greenwood - Public Indecency
- John F. Debaun (45) of Edinburgh — Public Indecency, Public Nudity
- Danny Irwin (62) of North Vernon — Public Indecency, Public Nudity
- Edward L. Albany (59) of Greenwood — Public Indecency, Public Nudity
DNR says its goal in enforcing public indecency is send a message that state properties are for family use. Cases of indecent exposure and illicit behavior will not be tolerated. Because the Driftwood property straddles the Johnson-Bartholomew county line, depending on which county the crime was committed, determined what court the suspect was cited into and which jail he was transported to.
DNR received a tip from the public illicit activity was going on but they say they had already planned the sting which took place Wednesday and Thursday. Officials want to reiterate the parks are safe for the public despited these incidents. Many people come with family to fish and hunt for wild mushrooms.
