WARREN (WWJ) - A 57-year-old man is facing charges after being taken into custody late Tuesday night after Warren police say he was loitering in residents' backyards and looking into windows over the last week.
Kenton Carl Driscoll of Ferndale has been charged with possession of burglary tools, resisting and obstructing police and disorderly person -- window peeping.
Driscoll pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and bond was set at $70,000 cash/surety, with a GPS tether required prior to release if bond is posted. His next court date is set for Oct. 25.
Commissioner William Dwyer said his department was made aware of the "Peeping Tom" incidents made by a number of people living in the area of 11 Mile and Ryan Roads over the last seven days.
Residents reported seeing an unknown white male hanging around in their backyards and peering into homes in the evening and overnight hours.
Several residents were able to capture the suspect on video footage from their security cameras or Ring doorbells, providing police with an accurate description.
Police noted that the suspect was seen on video leaving the area on a bicycle.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, police received a call about a suspicious man on a residential property in the 11 Mile and Ryan area. Responding officers were able to make it to the location quickly and spoke with the caller and a few other witnesses who said the suspect had been seen on other properties in the area.
Warren police said officers set up surveillance in the area when they received yet another call about an unknown male seen trespassing in the backyard of another home in the same area.
"Officers... later observed a white male matching the description of the serial 'peeping tom' attempt to flee the scene on a bicycle," authorities said in a statement. "The suspect was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit without incident. Officers received additional information that this suspect may have attempted to break into a vehicle in the area."
Officers identified the suspected "serial peeper" as Driscoll, who has a long record of disorderly conduct.
According to law enforcement, the man has nine total convictions on previous peeping tom cases. Altogether, Warren police believe Driscoll is behind eight other similar incidents in the City of Warren.
“I expect this suspect will face additional charges for the other crimes he is suspected to be involved in," Dwyer said in a statement following the arraignment. "There is no doubt that the community is safer now that this suspect is off the streets."
The commissioner is asking any Warren residents who may have been victimized by Driscoll or may have witnessed Driscoll engaging in any other suspicious activity to contact the Warren Police Department so they can speak with an investigator.
Dwyer said earlier Wednesday that “patrol officers had a fast response to the scene and worked together with members of the Special Operations Unit to obtain critical information about the suspect. Officers remained vigilant and were able to take this suspect into custody last night. This suspect was responsible for many crimes in Warren neighborhoods. I am thankful that this suspect is off the streets and will not be frightening Warren residents any longer.”