Delaware park police tackle ‘longstanding’ lewdness problem

Twelve men have been arrested this month in the Wolfe Neck parking area near a popular walking trail in Lewes for lewdness-related offenses.

The Junction and Breakwater Trail stretches between Lewes and Rehoboth through forests and open fields along a five mile section of the former Penn Central railroad. While the trail is adverstised for use by beach goers, families and other visitors, park police aren’t happy with how some people are using it.

Some people are using the trial as a meeting spot to engage in or solicit sex, according to the state Division of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Police.

“Such behavior will not be tolerated in a public area within a Delaware State Park,” said Natural Resources Police Chief Wayne Kline. “We are committed to eliminating this problem in a public area.”

Kline said they’ve received lots of complaints about this type of activity and are working to stop it.

They’ve placed “No Loitering” signs and increased patrol activity with both uniformed and plainclothes officers. “This operation is a response to a serious and longstanding problem with lewd and indecent public behavior at Wolfe Neck,” Kline said.

Charges for the twelve men arrested at the trail head this month include offensive touching, criminal solicitation, lewdness, and indecent exposure. Nine of the arrested men were from Delaware, two were from New York and another was from Pennsylvania. They range in ages from 49 to 82.