ESCONDIDO: Man arrested after allegedly taking pictures up women's skirts

By MORGAN COOK mcook@nctimes.com | Posted: Friday, July 22, 2011 7:00 pm

ESCONDIDO ---- A 40-year-old man was arrested after security guards reportedly caught him using his cellphone to take pictures up women's skirts while they shopped at a local store, police said Friday.

Police responded at 4 p.m. Thursday to a report of a man taking pictures up the skirts of unsuspecting women at the store, Lt. Craig Carter said. He did not immediately release the name of the store.

Security guards at the store noticed the man following women as they shopped and snapping the photographs while they were distracted, Carter said.

Three women in their 30s were photographed, and all three signed citizen's arrests, Carter said.

Police arrested the man, who was later identified as Juan Ramirez Chavez of Escondido, on suspicion of disorderly conduct, giving false information to the police, and using false documents.
Chavez was being held at San Diego Central Jail on Friday evening, according to jail records. He was being held on suspicion of burglary and was not eligible for release on bail.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs enforcement was listed as the arresting agency.

Carter said Chavez appeared to be an illegal immigrant who was wanted for a previous burglary charge.

Police were investigating another incident, which happened earlier this month, of someone photographing under women's clothes, Carter said.

He said no arrests had been made in that case, but police did not believe it was related to the incident Thursday.

At least 14 incidents of people taking covert photographs under another person's clothing have been reported countywide in the last year, Carter said.

Call staff writer Morgan Cook at 760-739-6675.

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