Camera Phone-Wielding Peeping Tom Arrested

Belmont Police have arrested a Belmont man suspected of photographing a female neighbor through an open bathroom window Monday morning.

Police responded to a report at about 9:50 a.m. of a subject photographing a female resident through a window of the home in the 1900 block of Arbor Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers were told by the victim that she saw a subject taking her picture with a camera phone through a partially open bathroom window.

The suspect fled when he apparently saw the victim realized she was being photographed. 

Officers began an investigation, during which they contacted a neighbor, Evan Chieda, 36, of Belmont. Chieda was subsequently arrested without incident on suspicion of secretly photographing  a person who is fully or partially undressed, a misdemeanor charge. 

Chieda was booked at the Belmont Police Department and the case will be sent to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

At this time there is no indication that Chieda is involved in other similar incidents, but investigators are checking with other Peninsula law enforcement agencies. 

Anyone with information on Chieda or other incidents he may be involved in is asked to contact Belmont Police at 650-595-7400 or the Belmont Crime Tip Line at 650-598-3000.