Accused Kohl’s Peeper Has To Get Flip Phone: Judge

LEMONT, IL -- A Chicago man accused of filming women as they tried on clothes in a Kohl’s fitting room without their knowing appeared for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday in Bridgeview. Christopher Polansky, 37, of Chicago, has been charged with three felony counts of unauthorized video recording after he allegedly filmed a 17-year-old girl at the Lemont Kohl's with his smartphone. He is also said to have used the smartphone to capture video under the dress of an unknowing woman, and later filmed the in the fitting room. Polansky appeared for a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Bridgeview.

The incident happened on April 30. According to the charges, Polansky entered the Kohl’s store at 13440 Archer Ave. Police said Polansky used a smartphone to take videos of a 17-year-old girl as she tried on bras in the dressing room. The teen was topless when she noticed a hand holding a smartphone underneath the stall. She screamed and a man, later identified as Polansky, ran out of the fitting room, according to police information provided to Patch. The girl’s mother chased the man out to the parking lot but lost track of him after he fled in a gray SUV, police said.

>>> Man Films Women In Kohl's Fitting Room: Lemont Police

Polansky was arrested the next day and appeared for a bond hearing on May 5 at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California, the Chicago Tribune reported. According to the prosecutor, a Target employee identified Polansky as a co-worker from a Kohl’s surveillance photo provided by Lemont police. He allegedly admitted to taking video of the unknown woman and masturbating.

Polansky, of the 10900 block of South Hamlin Avenue in Chicago, is free on a $25,000 I-bond. He was admonished by Cook County Judge Michael Kane to not have contact with minors under the age of 18. The judge also reminded him to not access the Internet or have a phone with Internet and video capabilities while his case is pending.

“The police have his phone,” his attorney said.

"Well, he can't own a phone with Internet access or video," the judge said.

Polansky's next court date is May 31 in Bridgeview.