Man caught on video masturbating in front of child at Winter Haven Walmart

A 19-year-old man caught on surveillance video masturbating in front of a 12-year-old in a Winter Haven Walmart was arrested Saturday, police said.

Elias Alan-Arturo Flor, of Wahneta, was charged with battery and committing a lewd act in front of a child 16 or younger after he turned himself into authorities, according to a release from the Winter Haven Police Department.

Around 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Walmart at 355 Cypress Gardens Blvd., police say, Flor masturbated on the back of a woman who was looking at toys in front of a child who was shopping with her.

Video shows Flor “looking for the right opportunity to commit the act,” police said. As he enters the store, he appears to be looking for someone. He walks around for a bit, then goes to the restroom.

After leaving the restroom, he walks to the section of the store where the woman and child are looking at toys. He paces the aisle for a short time, then walks up behind the woman as her back is turned while she looks at merchandise on the shelves.

The child was immediately "distraught,” according to police. When the woman asked what was the matter, the child told her what the man had done.

The woman alerted management, who notified police, but the man had already left the store. The child described the incident to police, and video confirmed the child’s story.

Police circulated photos of the man to the public on Saturday afternoon in the hopes of finding him.

Later that day, Flor turned himself in at the police station.

“This situation is absolutely sickening," Police Chief Charlie Bird said. “I applaud the child’s bravery to speak up and give details that gave information we could get to the media that assisted with the ultimate arrest of the suspect.