Man tells investigators why he was running naked through Rexburg
Published at | Updated at
REXBURG — A 27-year-old Rexburg man was arrested Saturday night after law enforcement saw him running naked near Porter Park.
Connor Jai Wood, 27, has been charged with one count of resisting and obstructing officers. In an additional case filed the same day, Wood was charged with second-degree stalking and indecent exposure, but documents are not available to determine if the stalking charge is connected to the alleged nude incident. All three charges are misdemeanors.
RELATED | Naked man accused of stalking Rexburg residents arrested after early-morning chase
Wood was observed running naked near Porter Park. Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued him on foot, but Wood was able to briefly lose them.
Law enforcement set up a perimeter to find Wood and eventually located him again after a deputy heard what sounded like someone jumping a chain-link fence, according to court documents. Deputies identified themselves, but Wood kept running until he became cornered in a backyard.
After deputies detained Wood, he reportedly said he had run because he did not want law enforcement to see him naked. He also allegedly said that while running, he takes off his Speedo, puts it in his sock and runs naked through the BYU-Idaho campus area.
Wood has not yet been appointed an attorney. He is set to appear in court Sep. 22 for arraignment.
Although Wood has been accused of a crime, that does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.