Calgary suspect in ‘Canada Creep’ investigation released with conditions

The lone suspect in Calgary’s so-called ‘Canada Creep’ Twitter investigation has been released with conditions after a short court appearance in Calgary.

Jeff Williamson, 42, appeared in court via CCTV in a blue prison jumpsuit before being released on $2,000 bail.

His conditions include a ban from the downtown core with the exception of court appearances, no access to texting, taking photos, social media or the Internet at all.

Williamson faces multiple voyeurism charges, with more expected, after the Canada Creep account on Twitter came to Calgary police attention, following local online users warning about the disturbing material.

It videos aimed up women’s skirts around Calgary, some of teenagers, others in change rooms, and some footage simply following women around town.

A woman not connected to the case named Lisa attended his appearance.

“Apparently he’s been going around the city watching other people, so I thought it was a good opportunity for him to be watched back,” she said.

His next court appearance is July 24 when he’ll be able to make a plea.

Police opened up tan investigation on Monday and made an arrest on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The account has since been suspended.

Staff Sgt. Cory Dayley said Wednesday the suspect was identified through a public tip and other cyber-investigative efforts. Officers seized computers, hard drives, and other devices from a home in Prestwick, with some material dating back to 2012.

“It could take weeks, if not months to go through it,” he said, adding police will be looking at hundreds of thousands of images and videos.

The account had over 17,000 followers and Dayley said investigators will also look at the totality of how much of the material was shared, such as through retweets.

“The suspect in custody has been charged for distributing the material, along with creating it,” he said. “So anybody who does distribute it, based on how it’s done or the totality or the intent behind that, depending on the investigation as it unfolds, we may look at that.”

Dayley said the videos left clear clues, including some images that showed the reflection of the suspect, which he said was helpful.

“A lot of people are upset about just the objectifying of women on this page, whether their image constitutes us being able to lay a criminal offence, it’s still objectification,” he said.

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