City commissioner caught with pants down

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OCOEE, Fla., April 13 (UPI) -- What one friend in Ocoee, Fla., termed a practical joke has resulted in a police report and embarrassment for his friend, a city commissioner.

Tony Cristelli said he sneaked up on his long-time friend,City Commissioner Danny Howell, as Howell slept in his car parked inside a closed park and pulled down his pants -- as a joke.

Before Howell awoke, a police office came by and made a report that said he found Howell at 12:45 a.m. Sunday. The report said Howell had his hand and a towel covering his groin, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Officer Stephen Tapscott said he woke Howell, whom he described as "incoherent." Howell reportedly told the officer he was tired and had taken half a pill of the anti-anxiety prescription drug, Xanax, but that he had not been drinking.

Howell said his genitals were covered by underwear, not a towel, and that he had taken the antidepressant Effexor for which he had a prescription.

He was not arrested because the officer did not see him break any laws and police don't routinely issue citations for violating park hours, officials said.