SAN DIEGO — Frustration and anger are brewing at an Alpine apartment complex after a mother says she caught a man peeping in her 6-year-old son's bedroom window.
Kayla Staub said it happened on three occasions at the Alpine Woods complex.
"The first time, I was panicked," she said. "I thought, 'No, this can’t be true.' And I tried to say, 'He must be a resident going to check his mail.' But when I found out we were specifically targeted for an entire week, and night after night, I knew something else was going on."
According to Staub, the third incident was on Jan 10. She said her husband confronted the man and made a citizen's arrest.
Deputy District Attorney Tricia Amador confirmed that the man was arrested twice in January in connection with this incident.
CBS 8 isn't naming the man because he hasn't been formally charged yet.
He was due to appear on Thursday morning at the El Cajon Courthouse. However, he was released because formal charges had not yet been filed.
Amador told CBS 8 that detectives are working "expeditiously" on this case. She said once all the evidence has been gathered, the DA's office will look at all the facts and determine if charges will be filed.
Staub said she realized another family was dealing with what she was dealing with after she saw another mom post about him on Nextdoor.com. She told the neighbor said the same guy had been peeping in her daughter's window.
Staub said she had filed a temporary restraining order against the man.
She's worried about what will happen if he isn't put behind bars.
"I'm sure every parent knows that feeling of when your child is in danger," Staub said. "And that is a hard feeling to resist. Step back and say, 'The legal system's got it.' That has been very hard for me."
Staub said her 6-year-old has autism and is non-verbal.
"It’s tough for those who can’t talk, like my son. [He uses] a-non verbal device, and when the detective asked him, 'Have you seen this man through your windows?' He pushed 'Yes,' It was heartbreaking and sad," said Staub.