A Mt. Pleasant reserve police officer was arrested after being
caught peering into a teenager’s apartment window — the second time he was
investigated for this type of behavior, according to police officials.
Ezra Depriest Martin, 44, 812 Hughes St., Spring Hill, was
arrested Tuesday and charged with observation without consent — a misdemeanor.
He was jailed and released on $2,000 bond Wednesday.
Spring Hill Police Department Lt. Justin Whitwell said officers
were called about 10:30 p.m. to Walden Creek Trace Apartments on Port Royal
Road in Spring Hill. Witnesses at the complex reported a suspicious man looking
into apartment windows, Whitwell said.
A Spring Hill officer arrived on the scene and witnessed Martin
looking into the window, catching him “red-handed,” Whitwell said. On the other
side of the window — a 19-year-old girl.
“He just said he was out walking around the building, but of
course, he did not live anywhere in that area, and his vehicle was actually
parked in that area,” Whitwell said about Martin’s alibi.
Martin lives several miles away from the complex, Whitwell
added.
The MPPD reserve officer
was also involved in what officers called a similar incident.
On June 29, 2012, Martin was observed sitting in a car at the
Burtonwood subdivision in Spring Hill looking at females through binoculars,
Whitwell said. The females called police and reported Martin, stating they felt
uncomfortable.
Spring Hill officers arrived on the scene, and Martin was found
with binoculars in his possession, Whitwell said. Martin said they were part of
his police equipment, and he carried them with him in his car, Whitwell added.
Martin was not arrested in that incident, but his name was
documented in a police report, Whitwell said.