Douglas Egan, 45, was arrested on Saturday, December 24, for allegedly unlawfully photographing women in a Fort Worth mall’s women’s restroom before threatening a lady with a pepper ball pistol as he left the scene.
The New York Post stated that the alleged event occurred at Hulen Mall at 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Egan, who was purportedly disguised as a lady during the incident, was accused of using his iPhone to take indecent photographs of ladies behind the restroom stall.
When approached by a lady in the restroom, Egan produced the pepper ball gun from his backpack, startling witnesses who mistook it for a handgun.
When cops met Egan outside of the mall, he was allegedly putting on men’s clothing. Currently, he is being held by the police on allegations of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and inappropriate video. There were no reported injuries in the event.
Officials and concerned residents react to the arrest of Douglas Egan.
Joshua Johnson, a Fort Worth police corporal, detailed the precise claims against Douglas Egan in an official statement.
Johnson said:
“While (the female witness) was using the toilet, she saw what she assumed to be a mobile phone emerging from under the stall.”
The statement continued,
“The guy then took out and displayed what seemed to be a pistol. He retrieved it from a rucksack and aimed it at the first witness before fleeing.”
Johnson said that Hulen Mall was put under lockdown to avert a possible active shooter scenario in response to the danger posed by what was first believed to be a gun. Authorities were concerned about the possible availability of a handgun since the event occurred only days after a tragic shooting at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
Johnson then thanked the onlookers who sought to prevent Douglas Egan’s assault.
He said:
“Thank you to the good Samaritans who intervened when they saw an uncomfortable argument and decided to intervene. To safeguard us, the community must be engaged.”
Johnson also indicated that this was not Egan’s first arrest, according to Meauwww. The defendant is known to the authorities as a serial killer with a history of indecent exposure and child molestation arrests in Dallas. He was freed from jail earlier this year after spending seven years.
Johnson said:
Regrettably, someone would take advantage of a person when they are using the toilet for selfish benefit.
The bail for Douglas Egan’s release from the Tarrant County Corrections Center is $30,000.
