Court Watching: Davis charged with six felonies after peeking under skirts at Walmart

Willie Eugene Davis, 42, of Van Buren Township was arraigned at 34th District Court on July 17 on six felony charges after a woman saw a camera tied to his shoe after he crowded her at Walmart on July 4.
Magistrate Al Hindman set cash or surety bond at $10,000. Davis’ probable cause conference was set for July 31 before Judge Tina Brooks Green.
Van Buren Township Deputy Police Chief Joshua A. Monte said Officer David Champagne was dispatched on July 4 to the Walmart on Belleville Road to take a report of a male subject using a camera attached to his shoelaces to look up the skirt of a female customer.
The female customer noticed the male subject standing extremely close to her, which startled her and caused her to drop an item she was carrying. When she bent down to pick up the item, she noticed a small camera facing up, tied to the man’s shoelace.
Fearing she had seen the camera, the male walked away, Deputy Chief Monte said. The female reported the incident to Walmart security, who contacted police.
Officer Champagne arrived, took the initial report, and, based on the female’s description, was able to locate the male on Walmart’s security video. He also observed and identified another female, also wearing a skirt, whom the male had videoed, Monte said.
Utilizing the police department’s Flock system, Officer Champagne identified the vehicle the male used to leave the parking lot and subsequently identified a potential suspect.
“Through Officer Champagne’s initial investigation, the Van Buren Detective Bureau established surveillance on the suspect and gathered enough evidence to execute a search warrant on the suspect’s residence in Van Buren Township,” Deputy Chief Monte said.
On July 14, the Van Buren Police Department’s Detective Bureau executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence and the suspect was taken into custody.
Deputy Chief Monte said during the search, detectives found electronic evidence showing the subject had attempted to and did video up the skirts of numerous females throughout southeastern Michigan. Multiple police agencies were contacted, as police suspected the suspect was visiting numerous retail stores to video up the skirts or dresses of unsuspecting females, he said.
On July 17, Willie Davis was formally charged with a six-count felony warrant, including:
• two counts of capturing/distributing images of an unclothed person (5-year felony);
• two counts of eavesdropping-manufacture/possession of a device (2-year felony); and
• two counts of using a computer to commit a crime (7-year felony).
Detectives also learned that Davis had committed a similar offense in Canton Township and was currently out on bond for that case.
“Officer David Champagne should be commended for his initial investigation,” said Deputy Chief Monte. “The Detective Bureau, including the lead detective, did a commendable job of methodically developing and collecting enough evidence to secure a search warrant and arrest Mr. Davis. Above all, the female in this case should be commended for coming forward and preventing further deviant behavior from Mr. Davis in our community.”
Others in the community who suspect they may be victims, are asked to contact Detective Scott Griggs at (734) 699-9289.
Davis also was arraigned in 35th District Court in Plymouth on July 19 for using a computer to commit a crime and installing or using a device for eavesdropping. Bond is $75,000.
Davis is alleged to have used his cellphone to look up numerous women’s skirts on July 15 at the Walmart store on Ford Road in Canton. He reportedly said there are more victims who didn’t know they were recorded.