Probably not the kind of holiday memories you want to celebrate and share with loved ones during the Christmas season. I don’t know what this guy was thinking, but he certainly had a different take on “bell ringer.”
CrimeFeed.com: A bell ringer for the Salvation Army is in hot water after police say he allegedly rang his bell in front of customers…and not in the good way.
According to the Kingsport Times News, on December 10 a man called authorities to say a bell ringer “lifted up his red apron” and exposed himself after a donation was put in the bucket by a man and his 4-year-old child. (The child’s father does not believe his son saw the lewd act.)
The Smoking Gun obtained the arrest affidavit from the Kingsport Police. The report says the man allegedly “pulled out from the inside of his pants” and showed the innocent people his genitals. The Smoking Gun says the man in question was sitting in a lawn chair at the time.
To make matters worse, according to the report, the bell ringer was “repeatedly” fondling himself under the red apron. This seemed to be triggered as children and customers entered and exited the store, the report said.
Although a formal complaint was launched, the surveillance footage could not reveal much because of the camera angle, and the evidence was ultimately deemed “inconclusive.”
The suspect, identified as 61-year-old William Martin, was questioned and may have denied it on the first go round, but the report says a second round of questioning cracked the truth out of the bell ringer. He “eventually admitted to the illicit act,” the report said.
The man was cited for indecent exposure and is currently banned from all Food City stores. He was arraigned on Friday.
The Salvation Army says Martin and his wife have been ringing bells for their organization around the holidays for years. At this point, according to the report, they both have been banned from doing so. Martin reportedly says despite what happened, he did not mean to expose himself.
Martin is expected to be back in court in March 2016.