Naked Man Spotted on Bethesda Row

County police transported the man to a local hospital

By Andrew Metcalf

Provided photo of the man

A Bethesda resident said she was shocked to see a naked man standing outside in downtown Bethesda Monday afternoon.

The resident, who asked that her name not be used, said she first saw the man on the sidewalk near the intersection of Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue—across from the Uncle Julio’s restaurant. A bystander then restrained the naked man and told him he couldn’t walk around without wearing clothes, according to the resident.

A county police officer soon arrived and then left briefly, returning with a pair of pants and a belt, the witness said.

“I was a little shocked,” the witness said. “It wasn’t warm out either.”

Pictures from the scene provided to Bethesda Beat show the man sitting on a bench talking with officers.

Montgomery County Police spokesman Rick Goodale said Tuesday afternoon officers transported the man, who police estimated to be in his mid-40s, to a local hospital around 2:45 p.m. Monday, but the man was not charged with any crime.

Goodale said similar behavior has been linked to use of the drug PCP, but he couldn’t say for sure if the naked man was under the influence of a controlled substance.

Goodale said the man didn’t know why he was naked when asked by officers.