Accused 'Peeping Tom' APD cop resigns

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin police officer accused of being a 'Peeping Tom' has resigned after being indicted on two counts of official oppression.

The resignation came Tuesday after a grand jury indicted Joshua James Peters, 33, on Feb. 16 in connection with two separate incidents and alleged victims.

Court documents indicate the police officer on Oct. 11 "did intentionally impede or deny [victim] in her exercise of a right or privilege knowing his conduct was unlawful."

Chief Art Acevedo elaborated on the charges by saying a criminal investigation into Peters began last summer after the department was notified of an anonymous flyer posted at an apartment complex. The flyer warned residents at the northwest side complex of an officer seen looking into unit windows.

"We immediately took the allegations seriously," said Acevedo. "Based on the investigation, we observed Officer Peters in conduct that appeared unlawful."

A victim told KXAN Austin News that officers informed her about Peters, who had been under surveillance by the department and was seen looking into her apartment unit on October 11th.

She says she never witnessed Peters looking into her apartment and may not have known if not for officers.

Another victim is also listed in the indictment as the subject of an unlawful search on the same night, when he "did then and there subject [victim] to a search that he knew was unlawful."

Peters had been a member on the department since December of 2002.

Acevedo says the case shows APD is committed to policing crime in the city even when it is an officer.

"Based on an anonymous flyer, we did not just throw it in trash. We took it seriously, started an investigation and gathered the facts."