A volunteer at an elementary school in North Carolina was apprehended following an incident captured on video at a local Target store— where he was observed taking upskirt photos at a local Target.
The arrest came after a bystander recorded 21-year-old Thomas Elliott following her around the store, placing his phone beneath another woman’s skirt to take a photo and/or video.
The footage of Elliot’s lewd behavior was later shared on social media, leading to his apprehension by the police at the store.
Confirming Elliott’s association with the school, a spokesperson for Pitt County School expressed grave concern over the circulated video, stating Elliott would not be permitted to continue his volunteer role or be considered for employment within their campuses.
“We are disturbed and deeply concerned by video footage of the individual that has been shared on social media and news outlets, and based on the footage, the individual will not be returning to our campuses as a volunteer or hired as an employee,” the school system’s spokesperson Tom McClellan said.
McClellan highlighted their pre-screening process for volunteers and visitors utilizing the Raptor program to check against sex offender databases.
Additionally, Opendoor Church in Winterville announced Elliott’s immediate dismissal upon learning of his arrest, although specifics regarding his duties at the church were not disclosed.
Despite initial apprehensions, authorities reported no discovery of inappropriate images involving children on Elliott’s cellphone.
A search warrant issued for his phone indicated his denial of any wrongdoing and his cooperation in showing recent pictures to law enforcement. The warrant sought various digital data, including video files, photographs, text messages, and potentially recoverable deleted information through forensic examination.
According to WBTV, Elliott posted a $5,000 bond and made his initial court appearance in Greenville following his arrest.
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