SC special ed teacher arrested for allegedly exposing himself in a Walmart
An Upstate South Carolina special education teacher arrested for exposing himself in a Walmart told officers he “just thought I’d kind of be flirty.”
John Joseph Gulius, 46, of Greenville, was arrested Sunday at the Walmart on Benton Drive in Travelers Rest, according to an incident report from the Travelers Rest Police Department.
He was a teacher at East End Elementary School in Pickens County, school officials confirmed.
He has been placed on administrative leave while they investigate the allegations, the district said in a statement. The district website describes him as a K3 teacher.
Travelers Rest police said two women in different parts of the store told them a man had exposed himself and then had run out of the store. He was seen in the parking lot driving away, but officers were able to stop him once he turned onto Highway 25.
They took him back inside, where the women identified him, the report says. One of the victims was an employee, the report says.
The incident report says the man was scared and “that he ‘may have’ exposed himself inside the store.”
Gulius faces two counts of obscene exposure of private parts in a lewd and lascivious manner, the report said.
In its statement, the Pickens County School District said it could not “provide detailed comments related to personnel matters, but can confirm that the teacher has not worked since May 27, 2022.”
The school year ended on May 26 and May 27 was an in-service day for teachers, according to the school calendar. The calendar also says there was an in-service day on May 31.
The SC Department of Education shows Gulius is certified to teach special education, middle level math, early childhood and elementary education.
The East End school Facebook page says Gulius went to work there in August 2019 and is originally from Pennsylvania. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a masters in special education. He taught preschool for four years and elementary students for five.
Greenville County Schools spokesman Tim Waller said Gulius worked in Greenville County from August 2013 until June 2019.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 12:29 PM.