A routine day at Oakland Street Park in Medway took an unexpected turn Thursday when a woman was found partially naked inside a public restroom while a youth camp with about 100 children was on site, according to police. Officers identified the woman as 54-year-old Julie Ann Pereira of Medway and said she resisted officers before she was taken into custody. She was charged with open and gross lewdness, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, and the incident was logged as I26-7579. Pereira is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Wrentham District Court, police said.
Police Account
In a news release posted by the Medway Police Department, Chief Wm. Kingsbury said park staff reported that Pereira was inside the restroom with her pants down and topless, with her breasts exposed. When officers went into the bathroom, they found her at the sink with soap on her arms, washing herself, according to the post.
The department’s account says Pereira “resisted” when officers tried to take her into custody and that officers “forcibly removed and lifted into cruiser.” The same release notes that a youth camp with roughly 100 children was at the park at the time of the incident.
Charges And Legal Context
Police said Pereira was charged with open and gross lewdness, a felony offense under Massachusetts law. The crime is codified at M.G.L. c. 272, § 16, as set out by the Massachusetts Legislature, which provides that a conviction can carry state prison or jail time.
Disorderly conduct is defined in M.G.L. c. 272, § 53, and resisting arrest is addressed in M.G.L. c. 268, § 32B, as published on Justia and Justia, respectively. Those statutes outline the elements of each offense and note that disorderly conduct and resisting arrest may be punished by incarceration, fines or both.
What Happens Next
According to the police release, Pereira is expected to be arraigned Friday in Wrentham District Court. The court is listed on Mass.gov as being located on East Street in Wrentham.
Medway police recorded the case as incident I26-7579 and did not include any booking information, bail details or medical information in their public statement. Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information may be released as the case moves through the court system.
