POLK COUNTY -- Tyler Nelson, 27, is charged criminally in Polk County with taking an “upskirt” photo of a woman at a St. Croix Walmart without her permission and allegedly stated to Law Enforcement that this was not his first time.
The criminal charges were filed in Polk County Circuit Court against Mr. Nelson who allegedly took an “upskirt” photo of a woman at a Walmart located in St. Croix Falls, WI.
Nelson is charged with Class I Felony Invasion of Privacy after an incident was caught on Walmart CCTV and reported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Walmart Asset Protection provided CCTV footage which allegedly shows Nelson following a blonde female at the Walmart store. While in the greeting card area of the store, the video footage shows Nelson crouching down behind the woman and using his cell phone, according to the criminal complaint .
A Walmart employee saw what happened and told the woman, after which the employee and the woman left the area and immediately told Asset Protection what had happened. Nelson is next seen on the CCTV footage moving to a bench directly under the CCTV camera and looking at a photo on his cell phone, the criminal complaint states.
Nelson was identified after further security camera footage was reviewed, leading to a check of the registration of the vehicle that he left the store in.
Law enforcement went to Nelson’s residence, observing the same vehicle in the driveway, and spoke with Nelson about the incident. Nelson allegedly admitted to being at the Walmart and taking the photo without the woman’s permission.
Nelson also told law enforcement that he had taken “upskirt” photos of numerous women in the past, primarily at Walmart, according to the criminal complaint. Also stated was that Nelson said he used his cell phone to take the photos and then deleted the photos.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that authorities were also able to identify the woman seen on the CCTV footage and when contacted, the woman said that she remembered the incident, and confirmed that she did not give permission for ‘anyone to photograph her, specifically her intimate area that was covered by her calf-length dress’. When shown an image of Nelson, the woman stated that she remembered him from the incident.
If convicted as charged, Nelson faces a maximum of 3 years and 6 months imprisonment, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.
Online circuit court records show that Nelson is scheduled to have an initial appearance later this month regarding his criminal charges.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jul 11, 2019 1:33 pm CDT
