By Elisa Amigo, WJW
PERKINS TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) - A Peeping Tom was arrested for recording cell phone video of a woman inside a dressing room earlier this week.
The victim in this case was not about to let the suspect get away. Tuesday night, Nancy Yingling was trying on clothes at the Target on Milan Road in Perkins Township. While she was changing, she happened to look down and see a man's hand sticking out from underneath the dressing room door, holding a cell phone that was recording video.
"I reached down and snatched it out of his hand, pulled my pants up and darted out the dressing room door. That's when I got in his face, kind of had my way with him," said Yingling.
Yingling started to call police. Seconds later, the suspect lunged at her to grab his phone out of her hand, and that's when she started swinging.
"I pushed him off of me and then I hit him across the face, punched him across the face a few times until he went down," said Yingling.
When police arrived a few minutes later, 21-year-old Zachary Van Zandt, of Sandusky, was sitting on the ground with his head hanging down.
"You feel very violated, creeped out … it's disgusting," said Yingling. "It wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I mean that was just my reaction. I didn't think twice, nor did I care."
Police say Van Zandt admitted that he's done this many times before.
"He did this at the mall and at our Target and in other areas. He admitted to four or five. Until we get the search warrant on the phone, we'll know how many other victims there are," said Lt. Chris Hilton. "He told us he was on his way to an AA meeting when he spotted a 'good opportunity to get some video.'" He had a counseling session in two weeks for this very problem. He said he has a sexual impulse problem, and that was what compelled him."
Police say once the investigation wraps up, Van Zandt will most likely face additional charges. Currently, he is charged with voyeurism and tampering with evidence. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning at Sandusky Municipal Court.
