A Delaware County man who allegedly took photos up the skirt of a 28-year-old Philadelphia woman at an Upper Darby store has been taken into custody, police said.
Bobby D. Hayden, 33, of the 1500 block of Rainer Road in Brookhaven, is accused of using his cell phone to allegedly take video or still photographs up the skirt of a woman inside the Pretzel Factory store, 54 S. 69th St. just before noon May 10.
Hayden is facing similar criminal charges for invasion of privacy, harassment and disorderly conduct for incidents reported last week in Media and on the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line, according to Upper Darby police Superintendent Michael Chitwood,
“Upskirting seems to be a crime that has become highly visible in the last year,” Chitwood said. “Radnor had a couple reported and there were a few reported in Philadelphia. This is our first one.”
Police issued the surveillance video from inside the pretzel store to warn the public to identify the voyeur.
According to the affidavit, the victim entered the store and while she was waiting in line to make a purchase she felt something brushing against her leg. She confronted the guy and smacked him.
“Each time he took a picture he went higher and higher and that’s when she felt something and smacked him,” Chitwood said. “It’s a shame. When she smacked him, she should have knocked him out. Then he ran out of the store like a coward.”
Hayden was developed as a suspect after a similar incident in Media involving an assistant district attorney who had the same thing happen to her.
An eight-man photo array was prepared by Upper Darby detectives and the pretzel store victim identified Hayden. An arrest warrant was issued for his arrest and he was picked up, police said.
“Apparently he’s out in Media and takes a photo up the skirt of an ADA and she calls police,” Chitwood said. “I call these guys derelicts and animals. This guy had three cell phones on him when he was picked up and we’re going to look at those phones.”
Hayden, who has a criminal record for robbery, theft and other offenses, was arraigned Friday by Upper Darby Magisterial District Judge Christopher Mattox and sent to jail in lieu of posting bail.
“A serial scumbag is off the streets,” Chitwood said.
The state’s attorney general office will prosecute the Media incident since it involves an assistant district attorney, Chitwood noted.