A routine DoorDash shift in suburban Detroit allegedly turned criminal when, police say, a 23-year-old driver pulled up to children playing outside a Brownstown Township home, exposed himself, then did something similar to an older woman in nearby Grosse Ile. Investigators identified the suspect as Christian Joel Venancio and say he now faces aggravated indecent exposure charges in both cases. Authorities told reporters the incidents were caught on surveillance video and that they believe there may be additional victims.
Surveillance shows a white Ford Edge
Detectives in Brownstown Township say surveillance footage shows a white Ford Edge pulling up to three girls playing near Telegraph Road. According to investigators, the driver called one child over, then drove away after a man in the vehicle exposed himself and was seen rubbing himself.
"This did not happen down the street, it did not happen in some alley somewhere, this happened right outside this residence," Detective Sergeant Ian Morrison told reporters.
Investigators say they traced the SUV in the video to Venancio and arrested him six days later during a traffic stop in Brownstown Township. Police told reporters the vehicle is not registered to him and that he is currently out on bond, according to WXYZ.
What the charge means in Michigan
Venancio is charged with aggravated indecent exposure in both communities. Michigan law prohibits "open or indecent exposure" and sets out penalties that can increase depending on the conduct involved, according to the state penal code (Michigan Legislature).
The Michigan State Police notes that aggravated indecent exposure involving a minor can require someone convicted of the crime to register as a sex offender, which comes with long-term reporting rules.
DoorDash screening and platform safeguards
DoorDash says drivers must pass identity and background checks before they can begin accepting orders. The company requires government ID verification and third-party background screening, and says it re-runs checks for many drivers on a weekly basis. It also uses real-time selfie verification to cut down on account sharing, according to DoorDash.
The company says it removes drivers who fail to verify their identity or who are found to have engaged in misconduct, while acknowledging that no system is foolproof.
Police ask for tips; family says fear lingers
Relatives of the children told reporters that Venancio's arrest has not fully calmed their anxiety about what happened outside their home. "It makes you feel very vulnerable and unsafe," one mother said.
Investigators say they are concerned there may be more victims who have not yet spoken up. Police are asking anyone who may have had a similar encounter to contact Brownstown Township Police or the Grosse Ile Police Department, according to WXYZ.
