Newport Man Cited after Blocking Sidewalk in a Pool of Urine

Robert Duane Spencer, 53, 1 Pond Ave., Newport, was summonsed for obstructing a sidewalk and littering on Monday after he was reportedly sitting on the sidewalk in front of the post office on Broadway in a puddle of his own urine.

Police said Spencer was on the sidewalk near Equality Park and as a construction project with heavy equipment was ongoing in the middle of the road, pedestrians had to walk in the road to avoid him and the puddle surrounding him.

Spencer was also reportedly yelling at passers by and an officer watched him flick a cigarette butt onto the street.

The officer issued Spencer a summons for obstructing the sidewalk and littering with a court date of June 9.

Spencer reportedly got up and began walking away across Broadway towards Equality Park before sitting down in the middle of the sidewalk again. The officer reminded Spencer to not block the sidewalk, which prompted him to walk away. As he left, he was seen putting the summons into the front passenger compartment of a local construction truck, which landed on the operator’s lap.

“Spencer continued walking toward Pond Avenue and I reminded him of his mandatory court date,” the officer reported.

Police said Spencer has had similar issues with police in the past.