2nd naked walker in Sumter not charged because of 'mental crisis'

Following a local attorney's early morning, unclothed stroll near an elementary school Tuesday, a second man was spotted walking naked on Frierson Road near Stamey Livestock Road later that same afternoon.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office responded to Frierson Road at about 1:40 p.m. and found a 47-year-old Sumter man walking down the road without clothes.

According to the incident report, the man was yelling with a knife in his hand and said he was going to kill himself.

Deputies were able to convince the man to put the knife down and took him into custody. Sumter County EMS then responded to the scene.

Because of the nature of the incident, the man was taken into custody for safety reasons. According to the incident report, he was under the influence of drugs and was not charged for the indecent exposure.

"The subject was not charged with anything because he appeared to be having a mental health crisis when deputies made contact with him," said Deputy Adrienne Sarvis, public information officer for the sheriff's office. "He was taken into custody for his safety and for the safety of others and was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation."

The man's name was withheld because of the situation and because he was not charged.

Early that same day, a 57-year-old criminal defense attorney was arrested and charged by the Sumter Police Department for indecent exposure after he was found walking naked near Wilder Elementary School.

After the incident, he was diagnosed with altered mental state by a doctor at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. He was arrested and charged after the fact and took to social media to share his experience, saying he does not think he committed a crime because he was in an altered state.