(FENWICK ISLAND, Del.) - A woman was arrested on July 4th for walking onto a Fenwick Island Beach topless.
It's not unusual to see guys walking the beach topless. It's not weird to see girls splashing around in skimpy bathing suits. But when a woman allegedly walked onto Fenwick Island Beach topless this past holiday weekend all hell broke loose.
"I don't think that should be allowed," said Cindy Jenkins as she lay on the beach reading.
"I think it would be a good idea for this area to have a section of people," added Renee Gotin, who was spending the day on the beach with her husband.
Fenwick Island Police hvae confirmed 24-year old Ashley Mills-Newby of Maplewood New Jersey was arrested for exposing her breast on the 4th.
Authorities said Mills-Newby was warned by life guards that nudity was not allowed on the beach. She complied and put her top back on, police say.
It was after the life guards left for the day, police say, Mills-Newby took her top off again.
After recieving several complaints, police say they responded to the area of Farmington Street where she was arrested.
Tons of families flock to the beach daily -- kids and all -- but many people said seeing a naked body was the least of their worries.
"If I was really young with a young family, it wouldn't bother me," said Gotin. "But I think today there's a lot of families it would bother. But I think it fine."
Renee Gotin' husband Kirk agreed with her, chiming in and saying "kids grew up with boobies in their face."
Walking up and down Fenwick Island Beach there were no visible signs explicitly restricting nudity..
But a search of the Delaware Code found a statute banning nudity in public areas and it explicitly cited exposed breast as an offense. The law is a class A misdemeanor in the First State.
Cindy Jenkins believes that's the way it should be, especially on a family friendly beaches.
"Something like that would have to be on a very private beach where you don't have families there," she said.
But the consensus along Fenwick Island Beach was very similar to what Mark Gilbert had to say, "It doesn't bother me one way or another. We're all human."
Regardless, it'll make you think twice before stepping on a beach bearing all your glory.
Fenwick Island Police say Mills-Newsby was charged with impersonation for providing a false name. She was also charged with disorderly conduct and disrobing in public.
The 24-year-old was released pending an arraignment in Justice of the Peace Court at a later date.