Police in Marion have arrested a New Bedford man on charges related to an indecent exposure incident at Tabor Academy on Wednesday.Joao A. Andrade, 38, of New Bedford, was arrested and charged with two counts of open and gross lewdness, the Marion Police Department announced Wednesday afternoon.Police said they received a call from Tabor Academy, a school in Marion, just before noon Wednesday, after two students reported that Andrade, a kitchen worker employed by Flik Independent School Dining, the school’s contracted food service provider, had allegedly exposed himself while they were in the school cafeteria.Following an investigation into the incident, police said Andrade was arrested.”We appreciate Tabor Academy’s prompt reporting and cooperation following this incident,” Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli said. “I would like to thank the Marion Police officers who used their extensive training and expertise to investigate quickly and bring this case to conclusion. I’d also like to thank the New Bedford and Mattapoisett police departments for providing translation assistance, aiding us in the investigation.”In response to the incident, Tabor Academy removed Andrade from their campus and legally barred him from re-entering.The school also released a statement regarding the incident, which said, “We are grateful to the students who reported this behavior and commend them for their courage in coming forward. We are equally thankful for the faculty and staff who immediately supported these students with care and professionalism. The safety, well-being, and dignity of our students are always our highest priorities. We took immediate action upon receiving the report and continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.”Andrade is expected to be arraigned in court on Thursday.

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