LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — What started as a car break-in early Sunday morning ended with a bizarre scene involving a naked man showering in a sprinkler system, according to an eyewitness.
About a week and a half ago, an orange station wagon parked along a downtown street, near Fourth Street Live, when someone smashed the back window with a brick and removed items from the vehicle.
Video from an eyewitness showed a man believed to be connected to the incident walking across the street and into a nearby parking lot — completely nude.
Steve Acree said he and his wife had just left Fourth Street Live and were walking back to their car around 3:30 a.m. when they saw the man.
"That’s when he came over here completely nude, jumped the fence, and busted a sprinkler head and was taking a shower in it like he was at home," Acree said.
Acree said it took him a moment to realize the man wasn’t wearing clothes.
"I called the cops, and they asked what he was wearing," Acree said. "I said, 'Well, not too much — he’s completely nude.' He did have a hat on."
According to Acree, the man repeatedly tried to break sprinkler heads before finally damaging one and standing under the flowing water. Outside temperatures at the time were around 50 to 55 degrees.
Acree attempted to talk to the man, but said he appeared disoriented and repeated the same phrases without acknowledging him.
Police said officers eventually detained a man matching the description, who appeared to be under the influence and possibly experiencing a mental health crisis. Acree said the man struggled during the encounter and broke free several times before officers secured him.
He was taken to UofL Hospital for treatment. His name and age have not been released, and police have not announced any charges.
Acree said he hopes the incident leads to help for the young man. "You know, maybe this will help him turn his life around," he said.
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