There needs to be more stringent and uniform screening of security guards. Criminal records of adults are public and therefore, should not be very difficult to access. -- IFPO.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A 9 investigation uncovered a man, who is accused of looting at the EpiCentre during last week’s unrest, went back to protect the business as a security guard the next day.
Channel 9 reporter Joe Bruno dug deeper into Marcus Williams’ criminal past and found that he is a felon.
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Last week Williams let everyone know on Facebook that he was armed and working security at the EpiCentre Thursday during the protests.
Twenty-four hours earlier, police said Williams was one of the people looting at the EpiCentre.
He was arrested and accused of taking $200 from the Kandy Bar.
Williams was convicted of armed robbery in 2012. He is also not a registered security guard in Mecklenburg County.
The owner of Carolina Advanced Protection Service who hired Williams wouldn’t comment but said he was hired as a fill-in and didn’t undergo a background check.
Security experts said that is becoming too common.
"As more businesses hire private security they are always looking to do it the cheapest way,” Private Officer International President Rick McCann said.
Both groups could be facing penalties because the security firm Williams was working for isn’t registered with Private Protective Services or the secretary of state.
"They can be arrested, they can be summoned to court and they can be fined,” McCann said.
EpiCentre and Bar Management officials refused to comment on the story.
