DOVER — A 47-year-old man was arrested in the woods last night after fleeing when a Dover Middle School janitor caught him masturbating outside of cheerleader tryouts.



Police responded to the school 6:48 p.m. after receiving the report from the janitor and immediately started searching the woods for Roy A. Chapman Jr., who had left his vehicle behind at the alleged crime scene.



Capt. Michael Raiche said Chapman committed the lewd act from a window outside the school's gymnasium and none of the cheerleaders witnessed it.



"We had numerous officers form a perimeter and got a State Police K9 to respond," Raiche said. "The K9 wasn't successful but one of our officers located the subject hiding in the woods."



Following his arrest, Chapman allowed police to search his vehicle where they located a small amount of marijuana. Chapman, of 52 Longshore Drive in Barrington, was subsequently charged with felony indecent exposure and lewdness, because of a previous conviction, and possession of controlled drug.



Raiche said it's unknown if this incident was premeditated.



"We don't know if he knew there was going to be cheerleader practice or if he was just going by and noticed the girls walking in," Raiche said.



Chapman is being held on $2,500 cash bail and is scheduled for arraignment this afternoon at Dover District Court.