Springdale police accuse man of lounging naked in yard next to strip mall in view of shoppers

Springdale police accused a man of interpreting what it means to live next to a strip mall a little too far.

John J. Schillinger Jr., 64, of the 400 block of Lincoln Avenue was charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness and disorderly conduct after police said they found him lounging in his backyard naked around 11:15 a.m. June 6, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said they received multiple calls from customers at the shopping center next to Schillinger’s home who reported seeing a man walking around the yard without clothing.

A narrow, paved strip that’s closed off by guardrails separates Schillinger’s home from the parking lot of the Dollar General Store in the shopping center, according to Google Maps Street View. The parking is elevated, and there is no fence surrounding Schillinger’s house. There also is a tobacco shop, laundromat, beer distributor and pizza shop in the strip mall.

Several witnesses told police that Schillinger regularly takes out the trash while naked, according to a criminal complaint. One neighbor said she warned him to stop doing it or she would report him to police.

Police said they could see Schillinger laying in his yard from the street when they pulled up to his home. According to the complaint, when officers asked him why he was naked, he told them: “I wanted to try this out.”

Police said they smelled alcohol on his breath, and he stumbled when he stood up. Schillinger told officers he drank a quart of moonshine.

An EMT was called after Schillinger slid down an embankment on his backside, but he refused treatment, police said.