Full Breakdown
Glendale Sex Offender Arrested Again for Alleged Butt-Sniffing Behavior
9/4/2026, 7:45:34 PM
Recent Arrest in Glendale Stores
Glendale police detained 39-year-old Calese Crowder, a registered sex offender, on suspicion of violating his parole after multiple reports of a man “hunkering down” and attempting to sniff shoppers in a grocery outlet on Glenoaks Boulevard. Officers responded to the initial call around 3:30 p.m., then received a second report from a nearby Marshalls store. Surveillance footage from both locations was reviewed, and Crowder was identified and taken into custody in the 100-block of South Brand Boulevard. He is being held without bail pending his next court hearing.
Background of Repeated Allegations
Crowder’s alleged conduct dates to 2021, when police first recorded incidents of him crouching behind women in retail settings in Glendale and Burbank. The behavior resurfaced repeatedly:
- In 2023, a video from a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Burbank showed Crowder crouching near a woman’s legs, later posted on TikTok and described by the woman as an attempt to “tie his shoe” while sniffing her.
- In 2024, he was arrested for peeping and prowling at a Glendale home and later served time for burglary-related offenses.
- In 2025, he was arrested twice within two months for similar sniffing incidents at a Nordstrom Rack and a Walgreens store in Burbank.
These patterns prompted Glendale police to monitor his movements closely, leading to the latest arrest.
Data on Prior Arrests and Convictions
- 2021-2025 – documented series of arrests for alleged butt-sniffing in Glendale and Burbank.
- 2023 – viral TikTok video of a bookstore incident.
- 2024 – conviction for peeping, burglary and robbery; sentenced to three years, released to parole supervision in June 2025.
- 2025 – two arrests within a single month for alleged sniffing at Burbank retailers; later sentenced to more than 100 days in jail for a parole violation.
Official Statements & Responses
Glendale Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian described the suspect’s behavior: “The male appeared to be hunkering down, as if he was trying to smell other people at the store.” He added that officers reviewed footage, spoke with witnesses, and located Crowder after he moved between stores.
Store manager Jimmy Koh of the Big Sav discount store, where one of the incidents occurred, said the behavior was “weird” and “creepy,” noting it was the third time Crowder had acted similarly at that location.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The first time I caught him, I was like, what is this guy doing? He looks creepy.” — Police
- “The male appeared to be hunkering down, as if he was trying to smell other people at the store,” — Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the month of Crowder’s prior re-arrest in 2025. An ABC 7 report states he was re-arrested in August 2025, while the Los Angeles Times records the arrest as occurring in July 2025. No additional details clarify which month is correct.
What’s Next
Crowder remains incarcerated at Men’s Central Jail without bail. Glendale police have indicated that a hearing will be scheduled at Los Angeles Superior Court, where a judge will determine further penalties for the alleged parole violation and any additional charges stemming from the recent incidents.
