NBC17 News Director Nannette Wilson issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

"Eric Watson is no longer an employee of NBC17 News. We wish him the best of luck in the future."

Eric Watson, 34, of 201 Old Grove Lane, Apex, was arrested just after 6 a.m. last Friday in the Brittany Trace Subdivision.

He had covered Chatham County. NBC17 contacted Watson on Tuesday for a comment but he referred all questions to his attorney.

Attorney Reginald O’Rourke released the following statement Tuesday night by phone message:

 

“I am sad to hear that Mr. Watson is having to deal with negative consequences regarding these allegations that have not been substantiated via the criminal justice system. And so, that’s all that I can say. We are saddened to hear that his employer has decided to end his employment without there having been any determination as to what has happened.”

Capt. Ann Stephens of the Apex Police Department told NBC17 on Friday that a witness contacted police Thursday and reported that a "graphiced vehicle" parked at the end of Woodbriar Road in the neighborhood around 6 a.m. Thursday morning. Police would not confirm or deny if the vehicle carried logos from NBC17.

That same witness told police that a man walked to a home in the subdivision, climbed onto an air-conditioner unit and looked into a rectangular window that looked into a bathroom shower. Police said a woman was taking a shower at that time at the home. The same neighborhood witness waited for the suspect to leave and then notified the homeowners and called 911.

According to police, neighbors talked about the situation and police began patrols of the area.

Early Friday morning, the same vehicle returned to the area and the witness said the same suspect walked toward the same home. A man who lives at the home then approached the suspect as the same witness watched.

When approached, the suspect fled on foot, police said. Police officers said they then arrested Watson on Hunter Street, which is in the same subdivision.

Stephens said that Watson was positively identified by a witness as the same person who had been seen on the air conditioner unit. Watson surrendered without resisting and made no statements to police, police said.

Police said that Watson and the victim do not know each other. However, police confirmed that Watson and the victim did attend the same gym.

A news vehicle belonging to NBC17 was taken from the neighborhood by police.

Watson covers Chatham County for NBC17. His listed home address is about a mile away from the subdivision.

 

Watson appeared at the Wake County magistrate's office just before 8 a.m. Friday and was released on a written promise to appear in court at a later date. He is set to appear at 2 p.m. on June 5.

  

Consistent with Media General policy, Watson had been suspended pending the completion of an internal investigation, Wilson said.

Watson released the following statement to NBC17 viewers and staff on Friday:

 

"Dear NBC 17 staff and viewers,

 

Let me first start by saying I am 100 percent innocent of the misdemeanor charges against me and I plan to fight very hard to prove my innocence. I am personally outraged and upset over the allegations.

 

I have been with NBC17 since November and during such time I have always taken my position as someone in the public's eye very serious. I apologize for the embarrassment caused to my fellow co-workers, the station and Media General...On the other hand I do not apologize for being mistaken for someone else whom according to my accuser said he "saw a black man about 6'2'' and built peeping into a window on Thursday."

 

I also apologize to the viewing public, specifically the citizens in Chatham County who have grown to embrace me as a journalist they can trust only now to learn that I was arrested. I assure you all that I am outraged over this matter and plan to prove my innocence if it's the last thing I do on God's Earth."