Florida authorities arrested a man who they say was discovered prowling around a backyard with underwear around his neck.
Cape Coral police said Friday that officers arrested Troy Dean Stuart, 35, after someone called 911 about a prowler in the 2000 block of Everest Parkway. The caller said they saw someone in their backyard near their dock and had also noticed the person on surveillance cameras.
Police said they discovered Stuart in an empty lot lying on his stomach between a hedge and brush near a seawall. He was wearing an outfit matching the description of the suspected prowler and also a pair of navy underwear around his neck, police said.
Stuart reportedly told police he was exercising and wanted to run along the canal. He said the underwear around his face was to protect him from the cold, police said.
Police said that Stuart said he was hiding because two men confronted him.
A neighbor told police that two bonsai trees were stolen from their yards valued at $7,000. Officers said they discovered the bonsai trees at Stuart’s home but they were not the stolen plants.
Stuart was charged with loitering and prowling. It is unclear when he will appear in court and if he has an attorney.