Teen traumatized by witnessing sex act in Athens park

By Joe Johnson

A 17-year old girl last week was traumatized by the sight of a man masturbating in Ben Burton Park.

The teen told police that she was sitting on the riverbank journaling on the morning of April 30th when she saw an older white male with a handlebar mustache masturbating on a nearby trail.

Witnesses reported that the girl had been “crying and acting hysterically” while telling what she had seen.

The suspect was gone by the time police officers arrived at the park, but they spoke with a woman who claimed she knew him to be a be a resident of Madison County who had a drug addiction.

Police indicated that an arrest warrant charging the man with public indecency would be sought.