An elderly Florida man has been arrested for exposing himself around his apartment complex, arguing that it was his “right to walk around naked.”
Tyrone James Causey was charged with five counts of indecent exposure at his apartment building in Hollywood, Florida, on May 22, according to 10 Local News. He was arrested after his neighbors called police to report the matter, saying they were “increasingly concerned and frustrated with his continued behavior.”
When police arrived at his unit, Causey, 79, answered the door while wearing only a “G-string thong.” He also reportedly told police that he had the “right to walk around naked under Florida Statute 800.001” as long as he was not at a “park.”
Responding officer Savannah Hutcheson then explained to Causey that it was illegal “to walk around in public exposing himself.” However, Causey insisted he was “allowed to and that he did not know he was being filmed,” per the outlet.
The incident grew increasingly inappropriate when Hutcheson said Causey put on lipstick in front of her and “began touching his penis.” He then allegedly asked Hutcheson to “jump rope for me” and called her “baby doll.”
Causey was then arrested and booked into Broward County jail. He has since been released.
At least five neighbors spoke to police about the incident, claiming that Causey had exposed himself around the building on a regular basis and he frequently walked through common areas making “lewd gestures.”
Causey was also accused of “thrusting his penis” at a woman’s doorbell camera, per the outlet.
He was previously arrested for indecent exposure in 1987, and his five counts for the May arrest were initially charged as felonies due to a citation that was issued in connection with a police call made on May 14. However, a Broward County judge found probable cause only for standard misdemeanor charges in connection to Causey’s most recent arrest.
Causey has also been arrested on charges unrelated to indecent exposure. He was previously involved in a high-speed chase in the Florida Keys in March, according to a Facebook post shared by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
He allegedly sped through a construction zone in a Toyota sedan and continued driving erratically as police tried to pull him over. Causey reportedly reached speeds over 100 mph and committed “other traffic violations,” including tailgating other vehicles.
Causey eventually pulled over and was arrested and charged with reckless driving and speeding.
It’s not currently clear if he has retained legal counsel or entered pleas following either arrest. The Hollywood Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding either case.
