Charges of indecent exposure filed against Hudson city manager, Tecumseh city employee witnesses incident in Adrian

By JIM LINCOLN

Charges of indecent exposure have been filed against City of Hudson City Manager Steve Hartsel following an incident on Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the corner of Main and Beecher streets in Adrian where a female city of Tecumseh employee witnessed the event.

According to an Adrian Police Department report, she saw a man driving a mini-van, owned by the City of Hudson. Hartsel had pulled up alongside the employee’s truck, and both were stopped at the traffic signal in front of Wendy’s restaurant where Hartsel was reportedly masturbating when he exposed himself.

When the traffic signal changed and Hartsel’s vehicle pulled away, she recorded the license plate number and reported the incident to police.

Adrian Police Chief Terrence Collins confirmed Tuesday that a report was received and sent to the prosecutor’s office.

Hartsel was notified shortly after the incident and went to the police department where he confessed to the charges.

Under questioning, Hartsel first said that he had been to Arby’s restaurant and was eating a submarine sandwich in his vehicle when stopped at the traffic signal.

He then said, “she saw what she said she saw,” and offered his apology.” It was a stupid thing to do,” he said, according to the police report.

Hartsel, a retired U.S. Navy commander, has been city manager in Hudson since Oct. 1, 2009.