Police say a routine trip to a discount store on Centerville Highway near Snellville turned into a criminal case after a customer reported that a Family Dollar employee slipped a phone under her dress while helping her search for an item. Gwinnett County police reviewed store surveillance video and say the footage backed up the woman’s account, leading to an arrest.
The incident unfolded Sunday at the Family Dollar on Centerville Highway, where the shopper had asked an employee for assistance before feeling something brush against her leg, according to WSB-TV. Investigators say the surveillance video showed what she described. Officers arrested 23-year-old Jarron Parker of Snellville and charged him with knowingly using a device to record underneath someone’s clothing, which is a felony. Parker was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.
Store Surveillance And Neighborhood Reaction
“It’s disgusting,” a nearby shopper told Channel 2’s Gwinnett County bureau, capturing the unease that has rippled through the strip-mall stretch where the store sits, as reported by WSB-TV. Other customers and neighbors told the station incidents like this stick with them and make them think twice about how closely they are being watched while they shop.
Where The Story Landed
The arrest also appeared in other outlets that regularly highlight local crime briefs, including WRIF, which featured the case in its weekly “pervert alert” column. That kind of coverage has added to calls for retailers to secure surveillance footage quickly and work closely with law enforcement whenever customers report possible voyeurism.
What To Do If It Happens To You
If you think someone has filmed you without your consent, keep any clothing you were wearing at the time, move to a safe location, ask store management to preserve their surveillance footage, and contact police to file a report. Investigators can review the video and pursue a case, and anyone who wants to consider civil action may want to consult an attorney.
