A local man has been criminally charged with taking “upskirting” photos of at least two women in a local supermarket last month and then fleeing from police when they tried to arrest him, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday. 

Christopher W. Cox, 33, of Red Bank is charged with second-degree Resisting Arrest/Eluding Police, third-degree Resisting Arrest/Eluding Police, and two counts of fourth-degree Invasion of Privacy.  

An investigation involving members of the MCPO Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit and the Shrewsbury Borough Police Department has revealed the following facts:

Shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, a man later identified as Cox was seen entering the ShopRite on Shrewsbury Avenue, and shortly thereafter he began following female shoppers around the store, using his cell phone in a manner indicating that he was surreptitiously taking photos of them from behind. Cox was then seen exiting the store shortly after 5:45 p.m. and leaving the area in a white Dodge Durango.

Christopher W. Cox

About a week later, shortly after 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, Cox was pulled over on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank. After initially obeying a command from an officer to exit his vehicle, Cox then quickly reentered the SUV and sped away from the scene, with the officer releasing his grip on him in order to avoid getting dragged by the vehicle.

Cox was arrested in Little Silver shortly thereafter and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Lavender of the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit. Information on legal representation for Cox was not immediately available.

A recent photo of Cox is being released along with this press release. Anyone with information about this matter or Cox’s recent activities is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Jose I. Rodriguez at 800-533-7443 or Shrewsbury Borough Police Department Detective Daniel DeCristofaro at 732-741-2500, Ext. 230.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about this or any crime can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400; by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available on iOS and Android – https://www.p3tips.com/1182), by calling 800-671-4400, or by going to the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.