From WRIL -
Wednesday afternoon March 11, 2020 at approximately 3pm, Middlesboro Police Officer Barry Cowan was dispatched to a report of a man exposing himself to a woman at Walmart.
The woman reported that the man, later identified as 31 year old Nathan Runions of Pigeon Forge Tennessee, had left the parking lot traveling southbound on Highway 25E in a Silver Jeep Patriot.
A short time later, Officer Cowan spotted the vehicle on Highway 25E and initiated a traffic stop. The license plate matched the description given by the woman. She stated that Runions pulled up to her vehicle and got her attention as she was loading groceries. He then asked if she was leaving the parking space so he could pull in even though there were other spaces open.
The woman goes on to state that Runions then pulled out his genitals and began masturbating in front of her. Runions denied the allegations to the officer and said the only thing he did was pull his pants up because he was about to go into the store.
During the traffic stop Runions denied a search of his vehicle, but the use of K-9 Officer Harvey Johnson and K-9 Atlas alerted on the vehicle revealing marijuana.
Nathan Runions was arrested and lodged in the Bell County detention Center charged with indecent exposure – 1 degree, 1st offense, no insurance, possession of Marjuana – 1st degree, and he was served an outstanding bench warrant.