Naked man 'waiting for rocket ship' found in synagogue's ladies room
By Gwen Arbuckle
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 8, 2004
A naked man found this morning in the ladies room of a Squirrel Hill synagogue was "waiting to catch his rocket ship," police said.
City police were called to Temple Sinai along Forbes Avenue to roust the man from the first-floor ladies loo at about 6:30 a.m. The man could not give them his full name and age. The white male is believed to be in his 30s or 40s.
Police arrived to find the man naked with his wet clothing nearby. Officers believe the man might have become drenched from wading in a pond or fountain on the synagogue grounds.
When officers asked the man why he was in the stall and why he wouldn't leave, police said he responded that "he was waiting to catch his rocket ship."
Police had to remove the stall doors and physically remove the naked guy. He was transported to Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland, where the man said he has been a patient in the past, officers said.
Officials at Temple Sinai said they would not press trespassing charges.