What began as an ordinary afternoon at a Wyoming public park ended with families packing up early and police escorting a naked man from the grounds, the second time he has been arrested.
Darren Mitchell, 31, was taken into custody after multiple visitors called authorities to report a nude man shouting at strangers and moving through crowded areas of the park, including spaces near a children’s playground.
Witnesses said the disturbance started at a busy picnic area, where Mitchell walked among the tables without clothing and began yelling at people sitting under a pavilion. Those nearby described his mood as unpredictable. He would laugh to himself one moment, then turn confrontational with anyone who tried to talk to him.
Parents reacted quickly as he moved closer to families. Mitchell reportedly walked into a birthday celebration, interrupted guests posing for photos and tried to climb onto a picnic table. Adults gathered their children and moved away while others phoned police.
Several people said Mitchell seemed to be speaking to someone who wasn’t there. In one moment witnesses described, he stopped beside a trash can and appeared to argue with it before heading in the direction of the playground.
Officers found him along a walking trail. He refused repeated requests to put clothes on, and officers spent several minutes trying to talk with him before taking him into custody. The arrest itself was carried out without further incident.
This is not Mitchell’s first time in handcuffs. He was previously arrested in New Jersey, though information about that case, including what he was charged with, was not immediately available.
Mitchell was taken for a medical evaluation and then processed on allegations of public lewdness and disorderly conduct. Authorities reported no injuries and said there was no indication he assaulted or directly threatened anyone.
Park activity was briefly interrupted, with some families choosing to leave before officers secured the area. Things returned to normal soon after.
It remains unclear what led to Mitchell’s behavior. Officials have not said whether alcohol, drugs or a medical condition may have played a role.