Published: June 24, 2009 10:54 pm      

LPD officers go undercover in Kokomo

Three arrested in reservoir park sex sting

KOKOMO — Once again, the tranquility of Wildcat Creek Reservoir Park has been compromised by men seeking sexual relations in broad daylight, all with other unsuspecting citizens nearby.

Kokomo police, as they have in past years, conducted an undercover operation Tuesday and Wednesday at the reservoir park off 500 East in hopes of rooting out these individuals and making the park a safer place for residents.

The operation netted three arrests, which Lt. Don Whitehead said is good news.

“It’s sometimes the timing,” he said of catching the individuals. “It’s hard to tell. I would like to think we’re making a difference.”

The three arrested were Anselmo Soto Jr., 40, Peru, Robert E. Howard, 70, Indianapolis, and Robert L. Gillespie, 57, Peru.

Soto faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of public indecency and B misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Howard County jail on an $8,000 bail as of Wednesday.

Howard and Gillespie both were charged with an A misdemeanor indecent exposure. Howard has already been released after posting bail and Gillespie remains jailed.

Police have conducted the stings annually after receiving numerous complaints of men lurking behind bushes and in the woods seeking sex with other males.

Whitehead and other officers sat across from the reservoir monitoring the operation as undercover officers from the Logansport Police Department acted as decoys in and around the park.

The undercover officers made arrests after allegedly being confronted by the men, who either exposed themselves to the officers or tried to coerce them into having sex.

The A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. The B misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 fine.

• Mike Fletcher is the Kokomo Tribune crime reporter. He can be reached at (765) 454-8577 or mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com.