LA MESA, Calif. – A La Mesa storeowner accused of inappropriate behavior attacked several members of the media in front of his shop Monday.
Police are investigating alleged lewd behavior by Peter Carzis outside his store, Peter's Men's Apparel in the 8200 block of La Mesa Boulevard. Someone recorded the incident and shared the video on social media.
"La Mesa PD is aware of the video posted on the La Mesa Happenings group and will be following up with any potential victims," the police department said in a tweet Sunday night.
When approached by local news media outside his storefront in the early afternoon, Carzis, 77, pushed reporters and photographers, shouting obscenities at them. One reporter said Carzis shoved her camera equipment to the ground before pushing her.
Warning: The following videos contain graphic language and may be disturbing to viewers.
Store owner goes berserk on the San Diego media in front of his shop after he is accused of lewd acts in public. @fox5sandiego police are searching for him. @LaMesaPD @LaMesaCA pic.twitter.com/cV0JxEGDK7
— Jaime Chambers (@jaimechambers) January 20, 2020
Carzis then went inside his store and locked himself inside. A "closed" sign was displayed on the door.
Just moments after a store owner attacks members of the media Peters men’s clothing store owner wanted for questioning. @LaMesaPD @fox5sandiego pic.twitter.com/0zZGKSmYvh
— Jaime Chambers (@jaimechambers) January 20, 2020
Several residents described previous instances of Carzis acting inappropriately.
"Then he pinched my stomach, grabbed my stomach and said, 'you need to lose weight,'" one woman told FOX 5. "Then I go home and I'm just in tears because I've never been fat-shamed like that."
As of Monday night, there was no record of his arrest.
Court records show a criminal case against Carzis in 2013 and two civil suits for harassment: one filed by a woman in 2013 and another by a man in 2015.
