Video of naked man's arrest goes viral
WILMINGTON, Del. — A video of a naked man's arrest by Wilmington police has gone viral on Facebook.
Police were alerted at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, with a call reporting a disorderly male in the 1000 block of Clifford Brown Walk, Sgt. Andrea Janvier told The News Journal on Monday.
The video was shot as responding officers located him in the 300 block of E. Ninth St., she said. As of Tuesday morning, it has been shared nearly 3,000 times and viewed nearly 187,500 times.
The man was identified as Tony Johnson, 28, of Wilmington, Janvier said.
No force was used on Johnson and he was not injured as he was taken into custody, Janvier said.
He was transported by police to Wilmington Hospital for drug screening and mental evaluation, she said.
After he was treated and released from the hospital, he was charged with disorderly conduct and lewdness, with bail set at $400 secured, Janvier said.
The 2-minute, 4-second video of his arrest — with inaudible sound shows the man standing still, with his bare feet in snow on the sidewalk, as four police officers walk up and surround him at a distance of several feet.
The officers then handcuff him without difficulty and direct him to a police car, picking him up and carrying him a few steps after he stops walking and sticks one leg out to his side.
News Journal attempts to contact the person who posted the video were unsuccessful.
On one share of the video, viewers posted concerns for the man's well-being, one saying, "Let's hope this person gets the mental health treatment he needs."
Some questioned what drugs he was on, while others commented on his body.
Others complimented police for caring about the man and handling the situation well. "Great job," one said.