3rd ‘Upskirting’ Photo Arrest In 2 Months Hits Same Valley Shopping Center

BURBANK, CA — A 69-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after police said he secretly photographed women under their clothing at the Burbank Empire Center, marking the third such arrest at the shopping center in less than two months.

Officers responded around 4 p.m. Saturday to a business in the sprawling shopping center after a store employee reported seeing a man follow female customers through the store and secretly photograph them under their clothing, according to the Burbank Police Department.

Police located the suspect, identified as Alfred Hernandez of San Fernando, as he left the store. Officers also identified two women, ages 48 and 52, as victims, police said.

Hernandez was arrested and booked on suspicion of a misdemeanor prohibiting secret photography or recording under a person's clothing without consent, according to police.

Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney's Office.

The arrest follows two similar cases at the Empire Center since late July.

On Aug. 28, police arrested 34-year-old Alfredo Solis of Huntington Park after a 61-year-old woman and a witness reported seeing him secretly use a cellphone to photograph the woman under her clothing at a business in the shopping center.

Solis was booked on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge. His case was also referred to the Burbank City Attorney's Office for review.

A month earlier, on July 26, officers responded to another business at the shopping center after an employee reported seeing a man follow women around the store and secretly photograph them under their clothing with a cellphone, police said.

Police arrested 23-year-old Emmanuel McCarthy of Los Angeles and identified two women, ages 25 and 26, as victims. The Burbank City Attorney's Office later filed two misdemeanor counts against McCarthy, according to police.

Detectives said the latest investigation remains ongoing and that there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified.

Anyone with information about the Hernandez case, or who believes they may have been a victim, was asked to contact the Burbank Police Department's Investigation Division at 818-238-3210.