by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
An alleged window-peeker was arrested Aug. 3 in Sartell and has been charged with three offenses.
Derek David George, 29, Sartell, was charged by the Stearns County Attorney’s office with one count each of stalking, indecent exposure and interference with privacy. All of those are gross misdemeanors, and each is punishable by up to 365 days in jail and up to a $3,000 fine.
On Aug. 3 at 12:51 a.m., a Sartell woman who lives on Pheasant Creek Loop called the police after she saw someone looking into one of her windows. The woman said she was in her bed reading when she heard the sound of someone clearing his throat. The woman then turned toward the window and saw a man at the end of her driveway looking in the window at her.
She told police the man moved to other areas of the outdoors and continued to look at her through the window.
She then saw him run off when the squad cars she’d summoned arrived at the scene. The police pursued him and nabbed him. The woman then identified the suspect as the man who was looking through her window. She said she had seen that same man drive past her house four or five times the day before while she was cleaning out her garage.
According to the complaint, George told police he was running after his dog that he said ran off when he let the pet outside to relieve itself. He told the police he did not look through the woman’s window.
The complaint report notes that since January 2013, George has been arrested, charged and convicted in Benton County District Court four times for charges of public indecency.
Derek David George
