Priest arrested while taking the air

FREDERICK, Colo., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- The Archdiocese of Denver says a Frederick, Colo., priest has been placed on administrative leave after being charged with jogging in the nude.

Rev. Robert Whipkey was arrested in Frederick and accused of indecent exposure, the Denver Post reported Friday.

The archdiocese also revealed that Whipkey was investigated eight years ago for "inappropriate personal behavior." Details of the allegations were not released, but the statement said the conduct did not involve "physical or sexual contact with another individual."

Whipkey was stopped by Frederick police June 22 at 4:30 a.m. while walking down the street naked. He told officers he was walking home from the Frederick High School track, where he had been jogging.

"I'm a heavy man, and wearing clothing while running makes me sweat profusely... I know what I did was wrong," a police report quoted Whipkey as telling an officer.

If convicted on the indecent exposure charge, the priest will have to register as a sex offender.

"Father Bob deeply and genuinely regrets any discomfort or embarrassment that this situation has caused to his family, to Catholics in the Archdiocese of Denver and to anyone," Whipkey's attorney, Doug Tisdale, said in a statement.