Savannah Fire & Emergency Services Public Information Officer arrested for public indecency

PORT WENTWORTH, GA (WTOC) - Savannah Fire and Emergency Services Public Information Officer Mark Keller was arrested early Friday morning by Port Wentworth Police.

Keller was charged with public indecency and was granted a $760 bond. According to the police report, an officer was informed, "that a white male in a white SUV was next to a light on Interstate 95 South Bound naked and masturbating."

When an officer arrived, he made contact with Keller and asked him why he was at the location. Keller told the officer he heard something rolling around in his vehicle and he stopped to fix it. The complainant was able to positively ID Keller from a photo of him. Keller was then placed under arrest for public indecency.

While under arrest, the officer conducted an inventory search of Keller's vehicle and found a bottle with an off-color liquid. When asked, Keller said the contents of the bottle was water, but upon closer examination, it was determined to be urine.

"What's in that Dasani bottle? What's in the water bottle," asked the arresting officer. "Water," replied Keller. "It's just water," asked the arresting officer. "Yes sir," replied Keller. "It's in the front seat, it doesn't look like water to me," replied the arresting officer.

Keller has been placed on paid, administrative leave while the incident is under investigation.

When word of Keller's arrest went public on Friday, we reached out to department leaders.

We were told Chief Charles Middleton was in a meeting for the rest of the day, and not given any timetable for a response. Port Wentworth police were called to the welcome center to check out a sex offense in progress, which was of a man self-gratifying himself while naked.

Officers found Mark Keller getting back into his vehicle as soon as they pulled up, and asked him to get out so they could talk to him. Police gave Keller a breathalyzer test, stating in the report there was alcohol on his breath. That test came back under the legal limit.

But when the witness who originally called police ID'd Keller, saying it was him without a doubt, they placed him in custody.

"Alright, right now you're being placed under arrest for indecent exposure, ok," said the arresting officer. "Indecent exposure," questioned Keller. "Yes sir," said the arresting officer.

Keller denied the offence before being placed in handcuffs.

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