TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa police arrested Michael Joseph Beal Thursday after he was accused of being a "peeping tom" at a local Sam's Club.
Beal is charged with attempted peeping tom with photographic or electronic equipment.
Now, his alleged victim is speaking out. She asked to remain anonymous. She said the incident made her feel violated.
“I didn’t even see him," the victim said. "And I think that’s what bugged me the most, is I didn’t even see him.”
The victim was waiting to check out at Sam’s Club near 71st and Mingo in June of last year when she said two young women got her attention.
“They said to me, 'Did you see that man?'" the victim said. "And I said, 'What man?' 'The man that dropped something.' And I said 'What? What man?' They said 'He dropped something and he dropped his phone and he was recording under your dress.'”
Tulsa police said Beal was questioned by store managers, but gave a fake name and number and left. TPD was later able to find him, but didn’t find any videos on his phone to arrest him. However, they followed up. TPD said Sam’s Club surveillance footage shows Beal in the store for an hour prior to this victim’s incident doing similar things to at least six others. TPD got a search warrant for his house and electronic devices, which revealed more videos, some dating back to 2016.
“It starts with peeping at someone and then escalates to touch and escalates beyond that," said Lt. Darin Ehrenrich, with TPD's Special Victims Unit. "So anytime we get a case like this we take it extremely seriously for those reasons and do as much of a follow-up investigation as the information will allow.”
This incident is a reminder to be aware of your surroundings at all times. And if you see something, say something.
“The witnesses coming forward and taking the quick action that we did is 100 percent the reason we were able to follow-up this investigation and make this arrest," Ehrenrich said.
The victim said she feels relief now that the man accused of violating her is now being charged.
“I was finally glad because I don’t want it to happen to anybody else," the victim said. "You know, I can’t do anything about that day, but I can do something about it can’t happen to nobody else.”
Beal was convicted of indecent exposure in 2003. He was also convicted of attempted clandestine video use in 2012.
His arraignment is set for Thursday, Jan. 28. He is currently out on bail.
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