Police arrest nearly naked man at Oakdale Junior High
Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/60190/
ROGERS — To protect her students, Shellie Cope had to talk to a nearly naked man.
It was almost 3 p. m. Friday, and Cope, a teacher at Oakdale Junior High School, found herself talking to Freddie Eugene Philpott, a Washburn, Mo., resident who was sitting in his Jeep in a field near the school, wearing nothing but a pair of underwear and offering a student $ 20 to come with him to Missouri.
And by talking to Philpott, Cope gave officers the time needed to arrest the man.
According to a probablecause affidavit in the case, Philpott’s Jeep jumped a curb at the school, located near Dixieland Road and Olive Street, and drove toward the students in a manner that made them jump out of his way. Philpott then offered one male student $ 20 to ride with him to Missouri.
At first, Cope told Philpott that he had to leave the property. He began to drive but almost hit two female students. Cope said he only stopped when she yelled to him. After that, Cope talked with Philpott until a police officer arrived.
Philpott was arrested for aggravated assault, loitering and endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree.
The charges do not reflect Philpott’s first run-in with law enforcement, not even his first run-in that day.
Earlier Friday, Philpott was released by Anderson, Mo., law enforcement after driving while intoxicated Thursday, according to the affidavit. Between his release and the Oakdale incident, Philpott was also involved in an Anderson automobile accident, where officers noticed he was wearing nothing and told him to put clothes on.
A few days before Friday’s incident, Philpott was pulled over by Bentonville police for driving erratically, according to the affidavit. Officers discovered Philpott was naked and appeared to be masturbating.
Philpott was also accused of trying to lure an Exeter, Mo., boy into his car about two weeks earlier, according to the affidavit. There was also a complaint against Philpott from Barry County, Mo., alleging he was stalking a handicapped female neighbor.
Philpott was being held in the Benton County Jail, needing to post a $ 50, 000 bond to secure his release.