A Lakewood middle school teacher has been charged with voyeurism after prosecutors accused him of repeatedly peering through the windows of an apartment where two Tacoma women live.
Michael Andrew Crouch, 33, faces seven counts of voyeurism and two counts of stalking. Crouch is a teacher at A.G. Hudtloff Middle School.
KIRO 7's Kevin McCarty was the only reporter in the courtroom when Crouch appeared Thursday afternoon.He's putting together the video from that arraignment right now for KIRO 7 News from 5-6:30 p.m. Watch on TV or use this link for the KIRO 7 News livestream.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Crouch was first spotted peeking into the window of an apartment in the 1100 block of North 12th Street in Tacoma on May 13, 2015. Crouch is accused of returning to the complex repeatedly, targeting the two women.
Tacoma police say the women tried to confront the peeping Tom a number of times but each time he got away. In March, one of the women spotted a dark-colored 1990s Subaru Outback and called 911 to report a suspicious person near their home.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Crouch was spotted outside the complex again on June 9 by a woman identified only as "M.A." “He ran away when she screamed and got into the Subaru. She told police she believes this man has been doing this for about a year,” the affidavit states.
Court documents state Crouch returned to the apartment June 10 and was spotted hiding in the bushes by M.A.’s roommate, identified only as "A.E." “When confronted, the male denied he had been looking into her windows previously, and got into his Subaru and drove off.”
Tacoma police were able to track down the car’s owner and arrested Crouch Wednesday.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Crouch at first denied looking into the women’s apartment, then changed his story saying, "I don't know how I got involved in that kind of thing. I guess, I don't know, sexual desire or something. I didn't think as much of it as I should have. I don't have any intention to hurt someone." Police say Crouch admitted under questioning that he hoped to see the women undressing.
According to court documents, Crouch was previously trespassed from the campus of the University of Puget Sound after he was suspected of spying on female students at the school.
Crouch pleaded not guilty to the charges and was freed without bail while he awaits trial.
Clover Park School District staff released this written statement Thursday afternoon:
"Michael Crouch is a teacher in Clover Park School District. District officials just learned of his arrest and are following district protocols to investigate the matter further. Student and staff safety is a top priority across the district. School is not currently in session and Mr. Crouch is not scheduled to be in school over the summer. Due to the legal nature of this matter, no further comments will be provided from the district."
Cox Media Group
