A 49-year-old man, Jeremy Michael Whitworth from Mooresville, has been arrested and charged with felony secret peeping. He is accused of using a camera to invade people's privacy in public spaces and bathrooms, possibly including on the campus of Davidson College. The arrest was made by the Mooresville Police Department, and the case is being reported by Queen City News.
Placing Whitworth on leave and banning him from campus entry, Davidson officials, facing Whitworth's alleged actions, have initiated a comprehensive search for any hidden recording devices. According to WBTV, this includes shutting down the individual’s Catcard and key access. Although initial searches yielded no findings, additional expertise has been sought with licensed electronics professionals expected to scour the campus in the continuing investigation.
President Doug Hicks of Davidson College expressed his dismay and anger in a letter to the campus community: "I am deeply sorry and angry that a member of the Davidson community has allegedly committed such actions. If any acts have taken place on our campus, it is a violation of our privacy, safety and trust." Hicks emphasized that the Mooresville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, working with Campus Police and legal experts, is crucial to understanding the full extent of the incident. Queen City News reported concerns about images taken with cellphone-like devices in sensitive areas on campus.
Officials have not yet reviewed the images, believed to be taken with a portable camera, but even one unauthorized viewing is considered serious. Davidson College has promised to keep students and staff informed as the investigation continues. The college, as reported by WCNC, is focused on community safety while searching for any hidden cameras.
