Original Article Monday, March 21, 2005 Police Charge Man for Flashing With Banana GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) -- A former Stamford police officer has been charged with lewd conduct involving a toy banana. Arthur Bertana, 62, who had been on probation for lewd conduct more than four years ago, was arrested Saturday after police said he placed a toy banana in his pants and flashed people. Bertana was charged with breach of peace and interfering with a police officer. "Over a span of time, there were several reports of a subject wearing extremely tight pants with an obvious bulge stuffed down his pants," Sgt. Roger Petrone Jr. said Wednesday. Bertana would allegedly greet passersby on the busy street while trying to draw attention, Petrone said. At times, he placed a bag in front of his pants, then moved it and show the bulge, he said. "It was a yellow, plush, child's toy banana," Petrone said. "It had a smiley face on it." Bertana was released on a $5,000 bond for a March 21 appearance in Stamford Superior Court in Stamford. --- Information from: Greenwich Time, http://www.greenwichtimeonline.com 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.