Naked man on parading around downtown Burlington: 'It's freedom'

Emilie Teresa Stigliani | Burlington Free Press

A man donning nothing but a cap, footwear and tote bag was spotted making several loops Thursday afternoon around downtown Burlington.

He declined to identify himself and offered little explanation when a reporter caught up with him near the Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop on Church Street.

"It's very hot," he said. "It's freedom."

Burlington, along with all of Vermont and part of northern New York, was under a heat advisory from noon to 8 p.m. with the National Weather Service predicting the heat index could reach 102 degrees.

More: Extreme heat: Tips for staying safe during summer scorchers

Was this the same man spotted walking naked around downtown Burlington in June 2016? It's hard to tell.

All he would say is that he had previously strolled around in the buff. The man is of similar stature to the one seen two years ago.

He asserted that walking around unclothed was good for one's health. The man said he was aware of Burlington's Ordinance Chapter 22-20 that states "No person shall go about naked within any of the city parks."

The man was not spotted walking naked in any city parks Thursday.

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He asked to be left alone.

"I'm doing nothing except enjoying myself," he said.

When the reporter told him that the Free Press planned to take his picture, he peeled off into an alley on the 190 block of College Street. The reporter and another bystander carrying a mobile device followed.

After a brief cat-and-mouse in the parking lot the man emerged from behind a car wearing pants and rejoined the clothed pedestrians.

Contact Emilie Stigliani at 802-660-1897 or estigliani@freepressmedia.com. Follow on Twitter: @EmilieStigliani.