Sunday, October 28, 2007

Wal-Mart Employee Charged With Taking Woman's Picture With Cell Phone

A Wal-Mart employee was arrested Monday after he took cell phone pictures of a shopper's bottom, Round Rock police said. The shopper said she heard a camera click behind her as she walked through the store at 4700 East Palm Valley Blvd. When she turned around, she saw 23-year-old Baldemar Vela acting as if he were talking on the phone, according to an arrest affidavit. She took a picture of Vela with her own camera phone and went to Wal-Mart management to complain.Vela later told police that he followed the woman because he found her attractive, according to the affidavit. He also said that he had taken as many as 20 such pictures of other women. "The safety and security and customers are our top priority. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on personnel issues," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jami Arms said. Vela was charged with improper photography or visual recording, a state jail felony punishable by to up to 2 years in state jail.