Rhiannon Ingle
A woman's visit to a bookstore took a horrifying turn after a 'creepy' man started surreptitiously sniffing her.
Michaela Witter, a popular TikToker with over 69.5k followers, was simply filming a day in her life video when a man allegedly started following her in a Barnes and Noble based in California.
In the TikTok, 28-year-old Michaela bravely confronts the man whilst he was crouched at her feet who claimed he was just tying his shoes. Check it out:
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Witter was in the middle of recording a video as part of her '100 days of solo dates' series on the platform.
The video, which was filmed on the 20th day of the TikTok series, showed the 'ugly side of doing things solo as a woman' after capturing the extremely bizarre strange incident in plain view.
"It felt like anywhere I moved, he kept following me," Witter told Eyewitness News.
The content creator revealed she started to record the man 'in case he was trying to say something or do anything to me'.
She flagged the man's behavior with members of staff and he ended up leaving the store after realizing he'd been found out.
"I ended up being stalked and violated in the store the entire time," Witter says in the video.
"I noticed a guy was staring at me… It felt like anywhere I moved he kept following me. I recorded in case he was trying to say anything or do anything to me."
She continued: "Then you notice that he goes over and does the same thing to this girl. He’ll crouch down low and pretend that he’s doing something and then smell? I don’t know.
"I feel really violated. He didn’t even touch me, but he was really close. It feels really gross and weird."
Witter has since posted a follow-up video telling her followers: "Please be safe and attentive to your surroundings unlike myself.
"Unfortunately, as women, we have to have all senses aware even in spaces we wouldn’t think necessary."
Burbank Police said in a statement: "The Burbank Police Department is aware of information circulating on social media regarding an incident that occurred at Barnes & Noble Bookstore on August 7, 2023.
"The incident was reported directly to the Burbank Police and has been under investigation. The incident was captured on video and viewed as an invasion of privacy. Investigators are also aware of other potential victims.
"The person believed to be responsible for the act was arrested in the City of Glendale. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is being released at this time."
The man, who has since been identified as 36-year-old Calese Crowder, has appeared in court on Monday (14 August) for suspicion of peeping and prowling in other incidents.
Crowder, a convicted stalker who has already been arrested multiple times and served eight years in prison, has now been sentenced to serve 60 days in county jail.
He pleaded no contest.
According to authorities, Crowder has a long history of similar offences dating back to 2011.
Alongside his sentence, Crowder was also ordered to attend classes set out to help individuals with sexual impulse-control issues.
UNILAD has reached out to the Burbank Police Department for comment.