SALEM — Early morning commuters and two workers at a local grocery store got a shock yesterday, but it had nothing to do with Halloween.
A naked man was running around on Canal Street in the frigid predawn hours, police said.
And no one is sure exactly why.
Just a few hours later, a court psychologist deemed Marvin Joseph, 23, of 143 Canal St. competent to appear in Salem District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd and wanton behavior, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and larceny — that final charge stemming from his apparent theft of clothing from a nearby laundry just before police arrived.
Salem police Lt. Conrad Prosniewski said the "quite bizarre" incident unfolded around 6 a.m., when police got a call from a Beverly woman who was on her way to work when she saw a naked man on Canal Street.
As she spoke to police on the phone, the man, later identified as Joseph, ducked into a laundry and apparently pulled some clothing from a dryer, then put on a red long-sleeved jersey with the letter P on the front and a pair of sweatpants. Police still don't know whose clothing Joseph took. He was still wearing the outfit in court.
An employee of Crosby's supermarket told police he had seen the man walking around the lot for about half an hour, occasionally looking into the windows of the store.
Asked by police why he didn't call them, he said, "It's Halloween."
A third person also reported seeing what she described as a naked man "in very good shape" running in the Crosby's lot. She continued on her way into work at the supermarket.
When Patrolmen Gil Priddy, Michael Dunn and Dennis Gaudet caught up with Joseph, he entered a fighting stance, according to police. He wouldn't give officers his name at first, saying, "My name is whatever your name is." He later spoke of going to "a happy place, which is heaven, and I want you guys to come with me."
Eventually, he became cooperative, even inviting officers into his cell at the police station, Prosniewski said.
Judge Richard Mori expressed both surprise and concern after hearing the facts of the case — and that Dr. Randall Dwyer, a psychologist at the courthouse, had found the man competent to appear in court.
"Is he a streaker?" asked Mori, who also commented several times on how cold it was yesterday morning.
He released Joseph but warned him to stay out of further trouble and report to a probation officer once a week while his case is pending. He's due back in court Nov. 17.
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