Man fired after incident at mall

A Chattanooga Times Free Press staff member is no longer employed at the newspaper following a charge of indecent exposure after an incident at Hamilton Place mall.

Police issued a citation in lieu of arrest to Kelley Smiddie, 59, after a witness flagged down an officer at 7:50 p.m. Thursday and told the officer he saw a man exposing himself inside his car in the parking lot, according to a court document. The witness also pointed out the car, which was leaving the lot.

The officer stopped the car, driven by Smiddie, who admitted he was touching himself inappropriately, according to the document.

Police also found in the car a digital camera containing several photos of teenage girls wearing small shorts, according to the document. The photos appeared to have been taken from multiple locations, including the Riverbend festival, and it appeared the girls were not aware they were being photographed from behind.

Smiddie was told to appear at the Hamilton County Jail on Aug. 15 to be booked and processed for indecent exposure.

He served as a sports reporter for the Times Free Press.

Smiddie issued a statement saying he has been struggling for several months.

“I made the mistake of turning to sedative medications this summer in an effort to battle stress, only to have bipolar reactions instead. I do not have a drug problem. I do not have a deviant behavioral problem. I have a depression problem. For the first time, I plan to seek professional help.”