AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man's mug shot, in which he grabbed his crotch and flipped officers his middle finger over his face, has gained local attention after the police department released the photo on its Facebook page.
Mitchell Peterman, 18, was arrested by Bath Township police early Sunday morning on charges of underage drinking and obstruction.
On Monday, after Peterman's mug shot was making its rounds around the Internet, the University of Akron student was apologizing for the incident and his dubious fame.
Bath police deleted the photo from its Facebook page later Monday.
Peterman's friends have texted him about the mug shots, which were being shown on news websites. Peterman said he had not gone on the Internet to see for himself.
"I haven't even seen them. I don't even want to look at them," Peterman said. "It's something I wish I wouldn't have done, something I wish I could undo. So, I'm just going to try and distance myself from it, learn from it and leave it behind."
Bath Police Chief Michael McNeely said Peterman and several others were at a local park at about 3 a.m. A resident called police to complain about noise.
While the others escaped, Peterman was taken into custody and initially driven home uncharged. He told police he was alone. Police say Peterman had been drinking Four Loko, a drink that contains alcohol. A breath-test showed his blood-alcohol was 0.15 percent.
"It must have a kick to it," McNeely said.
Later in the morning, Peterman, with his father driving, returned to the park area to find his friends. Police then arrested him, accused of lying about his companions when they had first confronted him.
At the police station, Peterman refused to cooperate with officers trying to take his photograph, McNeely said. He grabbed his crotch area and kept his hand over his face, extending his middle finger. Officers did manage to get his fingerprints.
"He tried to push every button he could," McNeely said. "He kept trying to provoke the officers into misbehaving, but they did not."
McNeely said the decision to post the mug shot on the department's Facebook page was not to embarrass Peterman, but to alert residents that officers are patrolling the park, which vandals have been targeting.
After the booking, Peterman was released to his father.
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