FARMINGTON, Maine — After being given multiple warnings about interfering with traffic over the last few weeks, a West Farmington man was arrested Friday on charges of disorderly conduct, indecent exposure and obstructing a public way.
Joel Batzell, 62, was charged after members of the Police Department again responded to his home near Center Bridge a few times Friday to check on multiple complaints they received from motorists.
On Friday afternoon, police say a woman who was driving by his home called after he stood in the middle of the road and exposed himself, department secretary Rachel Heseltine said.
Several people have complained in the last three weeks about Batzell waving a stick and yelling at traffic, she said.
Batzell was in the road again Friday yelling at traffic and waving the stick and dressed in an adult diaper and shirt. When police told him to stop and put clothes on, he put on a pair of shorts, Heseltine said.
On police videos, Batzell has told police the reason he’s out there in a diaper and waving to traffic is to attract attention and get into the newspaper, she said.
Batzell was released from Franklin County Detention Center on Friday on $3,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled for court on July 19.
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I think this old guy has totally lost his mind..
He hasn’t lost his mind…Batzell’s been like this for the past 30+ years. I recall about 10 years ago he had a run-in with the Maine DOT over the billboard he displayed(in violation of the state’s billboard law) over his ‘business’ on route 2. Most people in Farmington will tell you that he’s just ‘being himself’.
He was just as “unique” 25 years ago when I was at UMF! Nothing changes!
Yeah, he’s unforgettable all right. He was up to his usual stunts when I attended UMF too!
How in the world do you figure he hasn’t lost his mind. He is crazy, not stupid, and he’ll tell you so. He is also not cute or harmless.
Bats in the Belfry for BAtzell.
Bath salts
No. He drove himself crazy in the 70’s with whatever they were using then.
$3000 dollar bail plus a fine?
If the guy was that desperate for some fun he shoulda gone to Disneyland.
He gets his bail back when he shows up for court. That’s what bail is, a fee to guarantee your appearance.
Is he related to Tipper?
Clearly he belongs in a place for the mentally ill!!
The moral of the story for the kids is: do something stupid if you want the Sun to write a story about you.