Police nab two in park sex sting

By MIKE FLETCHER
Tribune staff writer

August 07, 2008 11:04 pm

— The usual calm, serene atmosphere of the Wildcat Creek Reservoir Park on 500 East once again has been disrupted, police say, by men who use the park as a gathering place for sexual activity.
Despite annual sex stings in response to continued complaints of illegal sexual activity at the park, Kokomo police officials say sexual predators keep coming back.
On Thursday afternoon, police arrested Gary L. Grimes, 64, Huntington, and Stephen A. Rich, 55, Indianapolis, each on a Class A misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure after police set up a sting in the park during daylight hours.
“It just goes to show this kind of activity has not stopped,” Kokomo Police Lt. Don Whitehead said of the arrests.
“Although, it appears it has slowed down. It was worth the trip, though. Obviously they’re not going to stop, but they need to know we’re gong to be out there from time to time to catch them.”
Grimes also faces a Class B misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly touching an undercover officer in a “rude, insolent and angry manner” during the sting.
Rich is an afternoon DJ on Kokomo’s WWKI radio station. Grimes is retired and drove almost an hour from Huntington to the park, Whitehead said.
Both were released after posting bail.
The charge of indecent exposure carries a Class A misdemeanor punishable by to one year in jail.
When contacted Thursday about Rich’s arrest, WWKI General Manager Mike Christopher declined to comment.
Last year, police arrested six men for the same activity in the park with the majority of suspects convicted and sentenced to one year in the Howard County jail, with 60 days executed and the balance suspended and one year of informal probation.
Anyone having further information regarding this or any investigation is asked to contact the Kokomo Police Hotline at (765) 456-7017, or you may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with your anonymous tip.
Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com