2008 Woodie Awards
Claims of Peeping Tom Lead Professor, Student on Pursuit
Eryn O'Neal
Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
An investigation is ongoing in the arrest of Edgar Arellano, after a female student alleged that she saw him taking photos in the women's bathroom.
Arellano was apprehended Oct. 6 in the 100 block of North Galanto Avenue, said Detective Ted Groezewski with the Glendora Police Department. His car was subsequently located in the cosmetology parking lot and was towed and impounded the next morning.
Arellano was arrested on suspicion of taking photographs of women from under the stalls of the Language Arts Business Building restrooms-initially in the first-floor facilities and later on the second floor. He is being detained by Glendora Police but has not yet been charged.
Business professor Richard Ghidella was working in his office in the LB Building when he was informed by a "good citizen" that a 35- to 40-year-old male was taking photos of women with a camera phone in the first floor LB bathroom, said Tony Giannone, security supervisor.
"When I exited my office to see if anyone needed assistance on the first floor, I noticed that five to six people were crowded around the second-floor LB bathroom. The suspect had moved," Ghidella said.
Ghidella said that he waited outside the restroom for about three minutes until Arellano left.
"When the suspect exited the bathroom, I asked him for his name," Ghidella said. "He told me he would show me his ID and that it was in his backpack. He started to walk east on the south side of this building [LB]."
The professor signaled a student because he thought he might need assistance dealing with the suspect, Ghidella said.
"The suspect turned the corner and then took off running," he said. "The student and I ran after him. We ran past more than 1,000 students who did nothing but watch.
"We were serpentine, running through the campus after the suspect. At this time I was yelling for security."
As Ghidella and the student, who campus security identified with the surname Clements, ran past the library, members of the Owl Patrol saw the chase and called security with their walkie-talkies, Ghidella said.
Security received a call at 5:50 p.m, said Giannone.
Arellano next exited Citrus College and ran north across Foothill Boulevard, Ghidella said.
"The suspect jumped over a fence, into a backyard," Ghidella said. "I then ran around to see if he would come out on the other side of the street, while [Clements] stayed at the location where he had first jumped the fence."
Arellano jumped over yet another house fence, ending up in the front yard where Ghidella was keeping a lookout.
"He started to walk toward me, incredibly casual," Ghidella said. Arellano then started to run and the professor ran after him into an alcove.
"He was stuck," Ghidella said. "He was winded, I was winded, and we both just stared each other down."
Clements then caught up to Ghidella and the cornered man.
"It was two against one," Ghidella said.
About three minutes later, two student members of Owl Patrol showed up, followed by the Glendora Police Department.
"He sat down and gave up. The officers then cuffed him," Ghidella said.
Detective Groezewski said that, though "taking pictures under the stall is actually a misdemeanor crime," the suspect may face felony charges, including possession of stolen property.
Officers found what they believe may be stolen articles in his peach-colored 1970 Pinto.
Editor's Note: Anyone with knowledge of this incident may contact Detective Henderson at the Glendora Police Department at (626) 914-8250.