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BELLE GLADE, Florida (WPBF) — An 18-year-old Winn-Dixie employee in Belle Glade has been arrested on charges of video voyeurism, battery, and tampering with evidence after deputies say he secretly recorded under a shopper’s dress and inappropriately touched her.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred just before 10 p.m. Monday inside the store. Deputies say the suspect, identified as Johnnie Evans, approached a female shopper and told her she had a spider on her back.
Investigators allege Evans asked for permission to remove the spider and then groped the woman from behind.
“I think it’s crazy. Am I surprised? No,” one shopper said. “These things do happen. I’m glad that they caught the perpetrator.”
The victim reported the incident to a store manager, and deputies quickly arrived on the scene. Authorities say Evans was found in a bathroom stall, where he appeared to be deleting images from his phone.
Deputies reviewed surveillance footage from aisle 8, which they say showed Evans pretending to stack shelves before bending down and appearing to record up the victim’s dress. Investigators allege he did this twice without the woman noticing.
Evans faces charges of battery, video voyeurism, and tampering with evidence.
“It’s shocking, but, like I said, hopefully something positive comes from it,” a shopper said.
Many shoppers expressed their concern off-camera, saying they were disturbed by the allegations.
WPBF reached out to Winn-Dixie, and they gave us the following statement:
“The safety and security of our customers, associates and the communities we serve is always our top priority. We are taking this matter very seriously, and the associate was immediately terminated. We are fully cooperating with the local police department on this investigation and will defer any additional questions to law enforcement at this time.”
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