OCEAN CITY — A South Carolina man was arrested on indecent exposure and other charges last weekend after allegedly exposing himself to several individuals in a spree uptown before pushing an officer and resisting arrest.
Shortly before midnight last Saturday, an Ocean City police officer was dispatched to the area of 143rd Street and Coastal Highway for a report of an individual acting strangely. When the officer arrived, a crowd of people pointed in the direction of a suspect, later identified as Jonathan Cordiero, 21, of Charleston, S.C. The officer asked Cordiero to sit down, but he continued walking, saying things like “I am already dead,” and “I’m God, I’ve always been here,” according to police reports.
Cordiero then suddenly removed his shorts and shouted “Now, I’m naked” and was not wearing anything under his shorts, revealing his privates to the officer. According to police reports, Cordiero then began manipulating himself. When the officer attempted to take Cordiero into custody, he allegedly pushed the officer in the chest twice with an open hand, but the officer was eventually able to gain control of the suspect.
After Cordiero was removed from the scene, the initial officer began interviewing witnesses in the area. One witness told police she was approached by Cordiero near a gas station at 141st Street and that he had pulled down his shorts exposing himself, allegedly saying, “God gave this to me and I have to use it as much as possible.”
Two other witnesses told police they had observed Cordiero’s actions in front of the other female witness for several minutes before the officer arrived. Cordiero was arrested and charged with indecent exposure, assault on an officer and resisting arrest.
