Man arrested for stealing flag/indecent exposure

A 67-year-old Key West homeless man was arrested Wednesday for stealing the American flag from the Sheriff’s Office headquarters building and then exposing himself.

Robert Jorge Janus was charged with theft and indecent exposure.

Lower Keys Detective Sgt. David Smith was notified the flag had gone missing. Detective Sgt. Smith reviewed security camera footage taken at the Sheriff’s Office property on College Road on Stock Island. The footage showed a white man, later identified as Janus, approaching the flagpole in a wheelchair at 3:23 p.m. on March 2. Janus is seen untying the flag rope from its cleat and lowering the flag. Janus then rolled up the flag and ultimately placed it in a backpack hanging from the rear of the wheelchair.

Janus is then seen talking to another male in front the headquarters building elevators. Both men appear to try to gain entry, despite signs that say, “Authorized Personal Only,” given the building has been closed for repairs since Hurricane Irma. The building is never open to the public on Saturdays or Sundays. The other man leaves. Janus wheeled himself to the parking lot where he appeared to be waiting for the nearby Keys Temporary Overnight Shelter to open.

Janus then wheels himself back underneath the building where he was seen pulling his pants down and masturbating.

Detective John Gabay spotted Janus in a parking lot at Kennedy Drive and North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West on Wednesday.

Janus told Detective Sgt. Smith the flag was on the ground and that he was planning on returning it. Detective Sgt. Smith told him the security camera footage was crystal clear as to what transpired. Janus admitted stealing the flag. Janus stated the flag was at KOTS, where it was subsequently found.

Janus stated he could not remember exposing himself.

Janus was taken to jail.

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