Former school official arrested for indecent exposure

A former Greencastle Community School Corporation superintendent was arrested this week in Greenwood, Ind., for alleged public indecency and indecent exposure.

John R. Coomer, 68, allegedly exposed and then fondled himself in front of an undercover Greenwood police officer in the bathroom of a public park Tuesday, according to a police report.

Coomer was snared as part of a sex sting the Greenwood Police Department was conducting at the park, the police report said.

When Coomer arrived at the Northwest Annex Park shortly before 2:30 p.m., an undercover officer followed him into the public bathroom and made a suggestive comment to him.

Coomer then exposed himself to the officer, the report said. When the officer made another comment, Coomer began fondling himself, at which point police arrested the man, according to the report.

Coomer was taken to the Johnson County Jail on preliminary charges of public indecency and indecent exposure.

Both are classified as misdemeanor charges.

Coomer was said to have posted $2,000 bail about three hours after his arrest and was released from jail.

Coomer told the Johnson County Journal that the incident was a "huge misunderstanding" and his arrest was "very subjective on the part of the officer," the paper reported.

In addition to taking leadership roles at Greencastle schools, Coomer also served as superintendent of the Monroe County Community School Corporation and as well in Crawfordsville and Tipton, Ind.