A 31-year-old Haleville, Ala., man was cited on misdemeanor charges of video voyeurism and third-degree assault after a 20-year-old woman reported a man was following her around at Walmart and taking pictures of her June 5.
Shawn W. Dickinson, 31, of Haleville, was cited later that day after police located his vehicle parked at Stones Inn on U.S. Highway 412.
"The incident was initially categorized as a stalking," said Capt. Geoff Lewis of Siloam Springs Police Department. The 911 call came in at 11:42 a.m. June 5.
The woman reported a man at Walmart followed her around the store and took pictures of her with his cell phone. When she left the store, the man followed her outside the store and reportedly touched her while trying to take another picture with his cell phone by holding it under the victim's skirt, Lewis said.
"The subject was not in the area when officers arrived," Lewis said. "Officers met with the victim, reviewed video which showed the subject apparently taking pictures of the victim with his cell phone by holding the cell phone under her skirt."
Based on the victim's description of the man, video and vehicle description, officers started looking for the vehicle. Officers located the vehicle later in the day parked at Stones Inn and spoke to the man. After the conversation with Dickinson, officers seized Dickinson's cell phone -- which will be examined after a search warrant -- and issued Dickinson a citation for violation of video voyeurism and third-degree assault.
"There is no known relationship between the victim and the subject," Lewis said. "It appears the subject was a total stranger."
Arraignment is set for July 7 in Siloam Springs District Court.
General News on 06/11/2014