Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — City police said a homeless man wanted in Tennessee on child rape and sexual battery charges was captured after he allegedly exposed himself at Wilkes University on Thursday.

College security detained Franklin Drayton, 34, of Columbia, Tenn., after he exposed himself to students inside a campus building and in a parking lot at about 1 p.m., authorities report.

Police said a records check revealed Drayton is wanted in Tennessee on charges of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery.

According to a criminal complaint:

A city officer was traveling on West South Street when he was notified that a man exposed himself on campus. While searching a parking lot, three male students pointed to a man with a red backpack running toward South River Street.

A college security officer detained Drayton near the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center on West River Street where he was arrested.

Two female students told police Drayton entered the Stark Learning Center on South River Street and exposed himself, saying, “Looks like Franklin. Franklin looks like me.”

Drayton also made sexual comments to the women.

Another female student told police Drayton was next to a vehicle in a parking lot performing a sex act on himself.

Police said he resisted arrest and then laid flat on his back refusing to be escorted to a prisoner transport van. Drayton kicked and spat at officers and was stunned by a Taser.

While at police headquarters, he urinated on the cell door and floor, and proceeded to roll his body in urine and performed a sex act.

Drayton was arraigned Thursday night by District Judge James Haggerty in Kingston. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, six counts of resisting arrest, four counts each of open lewdness and indecent exposure, and a single count of institutional vandalism.

Drayton was jailed at the Luzerne County lockup without bail.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Wilkes-Barre-City-Police-14.jpg.optimal.jpg

By Ed Lewis

[email protected]