A Florida man visiting Massachusetts, reportedly to escape Hurricane Irma's wrath, has been charged after he was allegedly caught with his pants down and had a sex "kit" in a wooded hiking area.
Fifty-two-year-old Paul West of Tampa was arrested and charged with open and gross lewdness in Salem Tuesday evening.
Police say an officer responded to the Cannon Hills area on Fort Avenue around 6 p.m., which is a popular spot for runners, bicyclists and children, after receiving a call about a man with no pants "doing some crazy ****" out in the open.
When the officer arrived at a clearing, he noticed a man by a tree who wasn't wearing any pants and had a large sex toy in his hands. Once the man, later identified as West, recognized there was a police officer in the area, he promptly began putting on pants and put the sex toy in a plastic bag while yelling out, "Hold on just a second, let me put my pants on."
West was arrested and taken back to the Salem police station.
While his property was being search and inventoried, officers found three notes describing sexually explicit acts.
In the police report, Officer Ryan Arundel said he believed West was in Cannon Hills to solicit a sex partner. West, however, told police he was only there to hike, and was trying to go to the bathroom but was having trouble.
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He was released on $450 bail during his arraignment on Wednesday, the Salem News reported. During this time, West reportedly told the judge he was staying in Beverly with his mother to avoid Hurricane Irma and the aftermath.
West is due back in court next month.
