GROVE CITY, Ohio — A South-Western City School District employee has been charged after allegedly masturbating in front of two teenage girls while sitting in his van at a Meijer parking lot in Grove City.
Russell Nitsch Jr., 67, was arraigned on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of public indecency.
The South-Western City School District confirmed to 10TV that Nitsch is a data employee with the district and upon learning of the arrest placed him on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.
The district said Nitsch was never assigned to work in proximity to students in any district building.
According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the Meijer store located at 2811 London Groveport Road on June 4 around 6 p.m.
An arriving officer spoke to two girls, ages 14 and 17, who said they were sitting in their mother's car while she was shopping.
The 17-year-old said there was a vehicle two spots away from them that was parked in reverse to be even with her vehicle.
The teen said she noticed Nitsch's right hand was moving up and down in a way that indicated he was masturbating. She said she gave Nitsch "the finger" and when he did not react, she began recording him.
The teen recorded two 15-second clips, which was submitted as evidence to police.
Nitsch was later arrested and charged with two counts of public indecency, both misdemeanors. After pleading not guilty, he was released on his own recognizance, according to court records.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated two different pleas. The copy in this story has been updated to correctly reflect Robert Nitsch, Jr. pleaded not guilty.