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HARRISVILLE, Weber County — Police arrested a man last week for allegedly filming young girls inside a Deseret Industries store.
Gabriel Araiza-Guel was arrested for investigation of felony voyeurism, misdemeanor voyeurism and disorderly conduct after he allegedly followed two girls, ages 7 and 15, around the store and used his cellphone to secretly record them, said Harrisville Police Chief Max Jackson.
The girls were fully dressed at all times.
Araiza-Guel was observed trying to film the younger girl "under the shoe rack and all kinds of sneaky places" at the store, 435 N. Wall Ave., Jackson said. He was also witnessed "following and photographing a 15-year-old girl," he said.
It was not known Thursday whether Araiza-Guel allegedly took video or still photos of the girls, or both. He was eventually confronted by the store security guard, who is also a Layton police officer. His phone was seized and Araiza-Guel was arrested, Jackson said.
The alleged incident happened on Aug. 19, and Araiza-Guel was booked into the Weber County Jail. Since then, Araiza-Guel has been deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jackson said. However, search warrants were still being executed on his phone to find out what images might be on it.
"(Being deported) won't deter our investigation," he said, "and if he ever shows up, there will be probably be a felony warrant waiting for him."
Harrisville police also looked at the possibility Araiza-Guel could be tied to a similar Salt Lake case, but detectives determined the two are not connected.
Jackson said the incident is a good reminder for parents and grandparents to always be observant of their surroundings and keep their eyes open for possible suspicious activity. Neither of the girls at Deseret Industries knew they were being filmed until after Araiza-Guel was taken into custody and police informed them, he said. Email: preavy@deseretnews.com Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam