Taking upskirt photos of women at church is no way to get through life. Or keep a job, as the Memphis Grizzlies’ former public address announcer has learned all too painfully.
Rick Trotter was fired by the Grizzlies back in July after nearly 10 years with the organization. But that decision hadn’t been formally announced until Tuesday, when Memphis police issued a warrant for Trotter’s arrest on four charges of photographing without consent. The photos in question were taken at the Downtown Church, where Trotter was also employed. The church fired him two days prior to the arrest warrant being issued.
Downtown Church has released a statement on Rick Trotter. pic.twitter.com/I1ubBi1KAN
— John Martin (@JohnMartin929) August 9, 2016
According to Memphis CBS TV affiliate WREG, police documents stated that Trotter was caught kneeling behind a woman during church services with a cellphone and filming video under her dress. He stored the video on a laptop issued by the church. Four women spoke to police and said they were videoed without their permission. After being confronted with the allegations, Trotter provided a written and signed statement to each woman.
Rick Trotter – The Voice of the Grizzlies from BackBeat on Vimeo.
Following the news of Trotter’s arrest becoming public, the Grizzlies issued the following statement: “Rick Trotter is no longer affiliated with the Grizzlies organization. We have no further comment on the matter.” But as the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported, the team had actually fired Trotter back in July.
Trotter was hired as the Grizzlies’ PA announcer before the 2006-07 season, beating out 28 other applicants in tryouts for the position. He had no prior professional announcing experience, having worked at the Fellowship Bible Church in Memphis when he auditioned. Trotter moved to Memphis to take the job at Fellowship Memphis from Atlanta, where he was the manager of a Chick-Fil-A franchise. Fellowship Memphis dismissed Trotter back in May for unrevealed reasons.
