A 41-year-old man was taken into custody after Orlando police claim he took video beneath an unsuspecting woman’s dress at a crowded shopping complex in the city’s tourism district.
The incident occurred shortly after noon Friday at the Orlando Outlet Marketplace on International Drive, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Investigators claimed the victim informed detectives that a man, subsequently identified as Thomas Newkirk, approached her outside an Adidas store and slid his phone beneath her dress to shoot footage.
The woman’s husband and brother witnessed the incident and confronted Newkirk, shouting at him and demanding what he was doing, according to police. The two men then went after the suspect.
According to authorities, during the pursuit, one of the witnesses was assaulted with a stick near a garbage can.
Officers said Newkirk eventually turned over his phone when they got on the scene. Authorities claimed they discovered the recorded video on the device.
According to police, Newkirk apologized to the victim and said he taped the video for sexual enjoyment.
He was detained on charges of video voyeurism.
Shoppers in the area expressed surprise at the occurrence, characterizing the shopping mall as typically crowded during the day.
“It’s always busy,” one customer commented. “That’s creepy.”
Karen Vasselo, a nearby resident, said the incident serves as a lesson to stay cautious.
“It’s a little bit scary because I live close to here,” Vasselo replied. “We just have to pay attention and be mindful of our surroundings at all times.”
According to online jail records, Newkirk has since been released on bond.
Leave a Reply