Police Searching For Suspect Who Exposed Himself To Teen At OC Wal-Mart
ORANGE (CBSLA.com) — Police are searching for a man accused of following a 13-year-old girl around a busy Orange County Wal-Mart and exposing himself.
Julie Evans and her granddaughter were shopping for gifts in the baby aisle of the Wal-Mart in Orange when police said the suspect began tracking the victim.
"This guy circled around her quite a few times," said Evans.
Police said the suspect brushed up against her before exposing himself in the middle of the aisle and touching himself.
"I was just so, so scared," said the 13-year-old victim. "I don't want any other girl to experience what I experienced. No girl my age should see that."
Evans reported the incident to the store's management but said nothing was done.
It wasn't until her daughter called the store manager that she learned Wal-Mart has a system, known as 'Code Adam', to deal with threats inside the store.
"All any employee needs to do, whether it be a manager, associate, anybody, all they have to do is get on the intercom and say 'Code Adam' and the security team that's in their office will lock it down without even coming out," said the victim's mother, Brook Salazar.
Evans said that did not happen and the suspect got away.
"I want to see every employee in the Wal-Mart at Orange to have to go to a safety training class to know exactly when you talk to them and they say, 'Well, our security is just for shoplifters.' Come on, what's more important? Merchandise or children?"
Wal-Mart declined an on-camera interview but released a statement condemning the incident and expressing cooperation with the investigation.
"This type of behavior is unacceptable. It's upsetting that something like this could have happened in one of our stores. We have been providing information to local police and will continue to do so as needed," the statement read.
Police have released surveillance footage of the suspect, who is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s or 40s with a stocky build. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
