A carpenter who keeps his clothes clean by working in the nude was arrested after a client returned home early and found him building bookcases in the buff.
Percy Honniball, 50, was charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure this week for the October incident in Oakland, California.
He told officers he stripped before crawling under the client’s house to do electrical work because he didn’t want to soil his clothes, police said.
Honniball said Thursday that working in the nude gave him a better range of motion and that a skilled craftsman can work clothing — and injury — free.
“In certain situations such as demolitions where you are smashing rock you want to be clothed and protected because this rock can harm you,†he said.
Honniball was caught working naked in Berkeley three times in the last six years and put on probation for violating a city ordinance. Honniball said he doesn’t plan to do work in his birthday suit again.
Police said he apologized to the startled homeowner, but was fired. The homeowner paid Honniball for the finished work, but deducted $200.
“He kept out that amount to change his locks,†Oakland Police Officer Jesse Grant said.
That man must have splinters in the oddest places!
Colm says
excellent, very funny. I always wanted to give this a go but now i guess I know better.