'Gautier man arrested for masturbating at Pascagoula library'

Gautier man arrested for masturbating at Pascagoula library (Updated)
Published: Friday, November 11, 2011, 11:01 AM
Updated: Friday, November 11, 2011, 3:02 PM


Phillip McClendon

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A 30-year-old Gautier man was arrested Thursday afternoon for masturbating at the Pascagoula Public Library on Pascagoula Street, Capt. Davy Davis said this morning.

Phillip Jermaine McClendon was arrested and charged on two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure. He was released from the Pascagoula Municipal Jail Thursday after posting $400 bail.

McClendon faces up to 6 months in the Jackson County Adult Detention Center and a $500 fine on each charge.

Although library officials declined to comment this afternoon, Davis said McClendon masturbated twice in front of the same employee.

Davis said that at about 4 p.m. on Nov. 2, McClendon followed a female library employee to a back office in the law library and masturbated while blocking the doorway.

"He was doing this in front of her so she could see him," Davis said. "He walked in, asked her questions and started a conversation. Suddenly, there he was doing the deed."

Davis said the victim was "scared to death and didn't know what to do because she was alone with him."

"She just kind of let him do his thing and then he left," Davis said. "By the time we got there he had disappeared."

Davis said that the librarian recognized McClendon from visits to the library, but did not know his name.

"We told her that the next time he comes in the library to dial 911," Davis said.

Davis said that on Thursday afternoon, McClendon returned to the library and approached the same employee who immediately notified authorities.

"He just walked in and looked around," Davis said. "When she saw him she went to the back and called the police. Before officers arrived, McClendon, again, began masturbating in front of her and another employee. He did it while we were in route."

Davis said investigators are trying to determine if McClendon has committed other deviant acts.

"Our concern is how many other people he might have victimized either in Pascagoula or outside the city of Pascagoula," Davis said.

Davis said anyone with information about McClendon performing deviant acts in public should contact the Pascagoula Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at 228-938-6683.

"Now, if it's happened outside of Pascagoula, they need to call their city's police department," Davis said.

Tony Marino wrote:Whats a Gautier man?

Chris wrote:

I think that's just where he's from. I just checked and Gautier is a city in MS.

Tony Marino wrote:

LOL OH!!