A Summerville man is in custody following an investigation into multiple reports of inappropriate behavior involving a driver targeting women in the Dalton area.
Dalton police say the case began after a woman reported a disturbing encounter while jogging on April 7 along Walnut Avenue. The woman told investigators she noticed a man sitting in a parked vehicle who appeared to be watching her and using his phone, possibly to record or photograph her.
Authorities say the situation escalated when the woman later spotted the same vehicle on Tibbs Road. When she approached the driver to confront him, she discovered he was engaged in a lewd act inside the car. She documented the encounter by photographing the suspect and his license plate before reporting it to police the following day.
Using that information, investigators were able to identify the vehicle. On April 9, the department’s Flock camera system flagged the car as it re-entered Dalton, allowing officers to locate it and stop the driver.
Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nathaniel Willingham of Summerville. During questioning, investigators say he admitted to similar behavior involving multiple victims.
Willingham was taken into custody and charged with four counts related to lewd conduct, along with one count of stalking.
Officials say the investigation remains active, noting similarities between this case and other recent reports in the areas of Walnut Avenue, Tibbs Road, and College Drive. Anyone who may have had a similar experience but has not yet contacted authorities is urged to do so.