Conway Up-Skirt Video Victim Speaks Out, Encourages Others to Come Forward
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: June 15, 2012
"He came up behind me, and I think he first acted like he was getting a drink or looking at something on a bottom shelf, " she said. "After that, I had no idea he was still there or what he was doing."
Evelyn Brinkley remembers the man standing behind her in the checkout line at Conway's Skyline Walmart Sunday afternoon. But she had no idea he was using a hidden camera to shoot up her skirt.
"He had no right to take pictures of me in any circumstance," she said. "It shouldn't be an issue and it never crossed my mind someone would do something like that."
After checking out her items, Brinkley was walking out of the store, when she was approached by Walmart Loss Prevention Officers, who alerted her to the tactics by show her a still picture from security monitoring surveillance video.
"It is embarrassing but, then again I had no control of it," Brinkley said. "I just look at it and thought 'Oh my!'"
"That someone could be that close to you and get photographs and you not even know it it's very scary. What's worse is wondering what further he could do, where else he's done it."
Brinkley filed a report with Conway Police leading to the arrest of 55-year-old Vilonia Public School teacher Michael Rush two days later.
"Officers went to view the video from my report. While they were there, he apparently came back into the store and they watched him do the same thing right there on the screen. I'm glad I came forward so he was caught," Brinkley said. "He could have hit every every store there is in town doing the same thing."
A police investigation revealed several surveillance videos, showing four different women were victims of the same stoop and shoot tactic.
"It was like it was an everyday occurrence for him. It's something he's done multiple times," Brinkley said. "The steps he took to take the photographs were just completely wrong."
So far, Rush faces one count of misdemeanor harassment but Evelyn Brinkley is pursuing pressing charges. Because police didn't actually witness the incident in Brinkley's case, she will have to seek the warrant herself, but she said it's worth the work.
"There have to be other people like this doing these things," she said. "This is a step to get them off the street. I'm willing to do that."
The identities of two women remain unknown and Brinkley's encouraging others to take a look and come forward to file their own reports if they see themselves in these shots.
"The more reports that get filed maybe, a harsher charge can be filed against him," she said. "If you are one of the victims, don't be ashamed because you didn't do anything wrong."
Brinkley does feel the laws for video voyeurism in the state need to be updated to match the advances in technology that allow for pictures of private body parts to be taken in public places.
"I do think it needs to be looked at and revisited," she said. "Right now, the harassment charge will only carry a year in county jail and a $2,500 fine. The time in jail will probably be suspended."
Rush is still employed by the Vilonia Public School District. According to police, there are no indications that Rush has acted inappropriately within the district.
He has not returned our calls or answered the door at his home for the past three days when we have tried to reach him for comment.
Evelyn Brinkley remembers the man standing behind her in the checkout line at Conway's Skyline Walmart Sunday afternoon. But she had no idea he was using a hidden camera to shoot up her skirt.
"He had no right to take pictures of me in any circumstance," she said. "It shouldn't be an issue and it never crossed my mind someone would do something like that."
After checking out her items, Brinkley was walking out of the store, when she was approached by Walmart Loss Prevention Officers, who alerted her to the tactics by show her a still picture from security monitoring surveillance video.
"It is embarrassing but, then again I had no control of it," Brinkley said. "I just look at it and thought 'Oh my!'"
"That someone could be that close to you and get photographs and you not even know it it's very scary. What's worse is wondering what further he could do, where else he's done it."
Brinkley filed a report with Conway Police leading to the arrest of 55-year-old Vilonia Public School teacher Michael Rush two days later.
"Officers went to view the video from my report. While they were there, he apparently came back into the store and they watched him do the same thing right there on the screen. I'm glad I came forward so he was caught," Brinkley said. "He could have hit every every store there is in town doing the same thing."
A police investigation revealed several surveillance videos, showing four different women were victims of the same stoop and shoot tactic.
"It was like it was an everyday occurrence for him. It's something he's done multiple times," Brinkley said. "The steps he took to take the photographs were just completely wrong."
So far, Rush faces one count of misdemeanor harassment but Evelyn Brinkley is pursuing pressing charges. Because police didn't actually witness the incident in Brinkley's case, she will have to seek the warrant herself, but she said it's worth the work.
"There have to be other people like this doing these things," she said. "This is a step to get them off the street. I'm willing to do that."
The identities of two women remain unknown and Brinkley's encouraging others to take a look and come forward to file their own reports if they see themselves in these shots.
"The more reports that get filed maybe, a harsher charge can be filed against him," she said. "If you are one of the victims, don't be ashamed because you didn't do anything wrong."
Brinkley does feel the laws for video voyeurism in the state need to be updated to match the advances in technology that allow for pictures of private body parts to be taken in public places.
"I do think it needs to be looked at and revisited," she said. "Right now, the harassment charge will only carry a year in county jail and a $2,500 fine. The time in jail will probably be suspended."
Rush is still employed by the Vilonia Public School District. According to police, there are no indications that Rush has acted inappropriately within the district.
He has not returned our calls or answered the door at his home for the past three days when we have tried to reach him for comment.
