Naked man arrested outside a Port Charlotte daycare

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man they say was naked and performing lewd acts outside a daycare on Thursday.

Deputies said Derrick Nelson, 44, was seen by staff at the daycare walking around outside while he was completely naked. The staff told deputies they saw Nelson masturbating and said he tried entering the building but was stopped by a locked door.

Deputies found Nelson in a camper trailer on the daycare’s property. They say he was still naked when he exited the camper.

An employee returning from her break spotted Nelson by a couple of trash bins walking up toward the front door. She didn’t want to go inside and risk letting the naked man in so she called the daycare, and they went into lockdown immediately.

The director of the daycare told WINK News the safety protocols protecting the kids worked, given Nelson never got in the building.

“We were prepared for the worst, and we got the best outcome,” the director of the daycare, who did not want to be named, said.

CCSO said Nelson was intoxicated and completely naked when he approached the daycare.

“We live in a world where we don’t know what’s coming. So again, my job is to keep students, any person in my care, as safe as they can possibly be,” the director said.

The director told WINK News she is proud that the safety protocols worked. The locked doors with key-pads, cameras, and surveillance systems all helped prevent Nelson from putting any kids in danger.

“The awareness level of protecting the kids was there 100% of the time. And again, not one of them was even visually exposed to, let along in ear-shot of, anything derogatory,” the director said.

The arrest report indicates when he couldn’t get into the daycare, he broke into a camper in the parking lot that employees use during their breaks. Before that, Nelson apparently caused over $1,000 worth of damage inside.

“They (deputies) were here fairly quickly… seven cars. And I mean, the whole thing was done within 45 minutes. So… after them taking statements and, I mean, they found him immediately and then took him off our property,” the director said.

Deputies found Nelson’s clothes, as well as THC they believe belonged to him, inside the trailer. They say he appeared to be under the influence of narcotics during his arrest.

“This should be a wake-up call of what our society has out there. Mental illness is a real thing,” the director said.

Nelson is facing charges of exposure of sexual organs, possession of a controlled substance, burglary, and criminal mischief.

Nelson is facing a number of charges including exposure of sex organs, burglary, criminal mischief, and drug charges.

The sheriff released a statement following the arrest reading in part, “This type of behavior is absurd… especially around children.”

The sheriff continued by saying, “If someone you love is struggling, reach out. We can’t force you, but we can guide you.”