Red Bank Man Took 'Upskirt' Photos At 8 Stores: Police

FREEHOLD, NJ – A Red Bank man charged late last year with taking “upskirting” photos of two women in a Shrewsbury supermarket has been arrested again, charged with similar offenses in a a number of stores, including eight incidents possibly with juveniles, authorities say.

Christopher W. Cox, 33, of Red Bank is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.

Cox is charged with:

• Eight counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
• Nine counts of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials.
• Nine counts of third-degree invasion of privacy.
• Two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
• One count of fourth-degree possession of a large-capacity gun magazine.

A detention hearing in the case has been scheduled to take place on Thursday, Jan. 19. The state has filed a motion to keep Cox detained as the case against him goes forward.

“The conduct being alleged and the frequency of the incidents associated with the charges announced today are equally concerning and disturbing,” Santiago said on Tuesday.

The prosecutor's office said the criminal sexual contact charges against him relate to his job as a plumber in which is is charged in two incidents involving clients at their homes.

An investigation involving members of the prosecutor's office Special Victims Bureau and the Shrewsbury Borough Police Department revealed information about his upskirting crimes and the other charges.

The prosecutor's office recounted the incidents:

On Oct. 20, 2022, a man later identified as Cox was seen entering the ShopRite of Shrewsbury on Shrewsbury Avenue and 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, the prosecutor's office said. Cox was then seen exiting the store and leaving the area in a white Dodge Durango.

About a week later, shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2022, Cox was pulled over on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank. After initially obeying a command from an officer to exit his vehicle, Cox quickly reentered the SUV and sped away from the scene, with the officer releasing his grip to avoid getting dragged by the vehicle, authorities said. Cox was located in Little Silver shortly after and taken into custody without incident.

The following investigation ultimately led to the seizure of the large-capacity gun magazine and numerous digital video files in Cox’s possession, most depicting girls and women being surreptitiously filmed from below using a cell phone placed in a "grocery basket, duffel bag or other means of conveyance," authorities said.

The incidents took place at the following times and locations, according to the prosecutor's office:

• Shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 at the ShopRite Wines and Spirits on South Avenue East in Westfield (Union County).
• Shortly before 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 at the ShopRite supermarket on West Grand Street in Elizabeth (Union County).
• Shortly before 1:15 p.m. on Monday, May 30, 2022 at the ShopRite of Shrewsbury.
• Shortly before 4 p.m. on Friday, July 1, 2022 at an unspecified Walmart.
• Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022 at the ShopRite supermarket at the intersection of routes 36 and 71 in West Long Branch.
• Shortly after 2:45 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022 at an unspecified Foodtown supermarket.
• Shortly before 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at the Whole Foods supermarket on Route 35 in Middletown.
• Shortly before 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 at the ShopRite of Shrewsbury.

The investigation determined that Cox was recently employed as a plumber, and the criminal sexual contact charges against him are connected to incidents taking place on Nov. 11, 2022 and Jan. 2 of this year, the prosecutor said.

In those incidents, authorities said Cox surreptitiously videotaped himself rubbing his pelvic area on clients while in their homes, in one case exposing himself and performing a lewd act.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Lavender of the Special Victims Bureau.

Cox was last arrested during a traffic stop in Shrewsbury Borough on Jan. 12, the prosecutor's office said.

“We are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Mr. Cox to please come forward and tell us what they know,” Santiago said. A recent photo of Cox was released by authorities.

Anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact MCPO Detective Sgt. Shawn Murphy 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.

Convictions on second-degree criminal charges are punishable by up to 10 years in state prison.

Cox is being represented by Christian Fleming, East Brunswick.