A Rockville resident has been placed under arrest following allegations of surreptitiously recording a woman in a Montgomery Mall fitting room. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Javier Armando Pastran Morales, now faces charges connected to violating an individual's privacy, as confirmed by officials from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Station.
Authorities were swiftly alerted to the incident on April 17 at around 3:10 p.m. after a report of "a peeping tom" was made. Montgomery County police officers promptly responded to the scene located at the 7100 block of Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. Upon review, it was discovered that Pastran Morales was allegedly attempting to inconspicuously record or photograph a female as she was trying on clothing in a neighboring fitting room. The victim, noticing the intrusion, led to Pastran Morales hastily departing the premises.
Through the examination of mall surveillance footage and subsequent investigative work, a clear description of the suspect was formulated. This diligent effort allowed the police to pinpoint Pastran Morales as the individual behind the invasive act. "Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the mall and obtained a description of the suspect," recounted the official Montgomery County police report.
An arrest warrant was duly secured on May 9, after which, on May 15, Pastran Morales was apprehended without incident outside his residence in Rockville. Charged with peeping tom, private place-prurient intent, and visual surveillance-private area, the suspect was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. Following the due process, he was later released on an unsecured personal bond set at $3,000, according to the press release by Montgomery County officials.
