School teacher defecated in public park 'several times per day' for two years

Jeffrey Churchwell tells authorities he did it for convenience and to be disrespectful

A retiring Wisconsin English teacher cited for defecating in a public park for two years told authorities he was “being an idiot” and he did it for convenience and to be disrespectful.

Jeffrey Churchwell, who is retiring from Milton School District later this month, will have to pay $365 (£280) in fines plus $5,705 (£4362) in restitution to the Public Works Department, which cleaned up after him.

The Janesville Gazette reported on Tuesday that it found out about the case through an open records request of sheriff’s office reports.

The reports indicated Mr Churchwell had been defecating outside of and on a building at Natureland Park in the town of Whitewater, sometimes several times per day, since 2017.

Authorities caught Mr Churchwell on 8 October when a deputy spotted his vehicle and stopped him as he drove into the park.

That day, sheriff’s deputies had already spoken to a worker at the Walworth County Highway Shop who complained about someone defecating on a park building and leaving used toilet paper behind.

The worker showed deputies photos from trail cameras that showed a man defecating in the park. The pictures also showed Mr Churchwell’s car parked nearby and a partial plate number, which was used to identify Mr Churchwell.

When the deputy pulled over Mr Churchwell driving into the park, the retiring teacher said he did not know why he was being stopped.

But deputies asked if it would help to show him pictures of why he was being stopped, Mr Churchwell hung his head and said, “going to the bathroom.”

Asked what that meant and if it was in a park toilet, Mr Churchwell responded “a number two” by the park building without a bathroom.

He also acknowledged he occasionally defecates in the park on the way to school.

A day after his arrest, Mr Churchwell wrote to the sheriff’s deputy who stoppe​d him and apologised and said he realises he made a mistake.

“I’m so disappointed in myself,” Mr Churchwell said in an email. “I have the great opportunity to teach ‘Political Rhetoric.’ In this class, I stress the importance of involved citizenship. And then there I am being a lousy citizen of Walworth County,” he said, adding that he’s sickened by his hypocrisy.

“As well, after REALLY thinking about why I did what I did,” the email continued, “I came to the conclusion that I allowed my thrill-seeking, self-indulgent pride and ego both get the best of me.”

Associated Press