If you ask 37-year-old Tony Stromsness, people should be allowed to masturbate wherever they want, and in front of whomever they want -- for example, on top of a picnic table in a busy public park, in front of children, which is where Stromsness was arrested yesterday afternoon.
According to court documents obtained by New Times, Stromsness was arrested about 2;45 p.m. yesterday while masturbating on top of a picnic table at Kiwanis Park in Tempe.
Stromsness, police say, was laying on his back on top of the picnic table jerking off as hundreds of citizens -- dozens of whom were juveniles under the age of 15 -- were enjoying the park.
At least five people witnessed Stromsness as he beat off -- for about 15 minutes -- until the cops showed up.
When police arrived, Stromsness was found with "his genitalia in his hand." According to
the arresting officer, he made "no effort to hide his actions" --
presumably because he doesn't think masturbating on top of a picnic
table in a crowded public park on a Sunday afternoon is anything he
should be ashamed of, much less, should it be illegal.
Following his arrest, Stromsness admitted to masturbating in public. He
told cops he didn't think it should be a felony and that the the statute
prohibiting masturbating in public is a "stupid law."
The police disagreed, and Stromsness was booked into the Tempe City Jail
on one count of public sexual indecency with minors present.
