A Mississippi man faces 10 counts of indecent exposure after reportedly engaging in self-sexual gratification in Eupora.
The Webster County Sheriff’s Office reports that Josh Whitlock was booked into the local detention center on Friday. His bond has not been set at this time.
Whitlock is reported to have recorded himself masturbating on a bench near a daycare in Eupora and shared the video on social media. Police began investigating after the videos surfaced online and later took the subject into custody.
“The incident took place on a bench that was recently carved as part of last month’s Chainsaw & Art Festival, which makes this situation particularly upsetting for us and for many in the community. We are in disbelief that such an event could occur in connection with something that was meant to be a positive and creative contribution to our town,” a statement from Eupora Economic Development Executive Director Janet Cook reads.
“While we cannot control the actions of individuals outside of our organization, we want to reaffirm our commitment to integrity, professionalism, and respect in all our community efforts. We remain focused on building a strong, positive atmosphere and will not let this incident undermine the spirit of collaboration and artistry that we’ve worked so hard to collaborate.”
Whitlock is currently being investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies.
