An elderly "Peeping Tom" was arrested at Coral Gables Apartments in the wee hours last week thanks to a tried-and-true police tactic: the foot patrol.

The offender, an elderly Jonesboro man, was discovered by Lt. Mike Claman while he was walking in the apartment complex after 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Bennie Ray Yonce, 61, was charged under Georgia's Peeping Tom law, which is classified as a felony.

"We feel we prevented a much more serious crime," said Maj. Mike Dupree. "This was definitely a public safety matter that caused a potential threat to our community.”

When Claman saw Yonce, he ducked so he wouldn't be spotted while he radioed for backup.

Sgt. David Lamb and Patrolman Shawn Brotherton helped surround Yonce so he couldn't get away when they moved in to make the arrest, Dupree added.

The foot patrols at Coral Gables were instituted because of several recent thefts in the apartment complex, Dupree said. In fact, when Lt. Claman parked his patrol vehicle, he unknowingly parked in a space next to Yonce's vehicle, Dupree added.

The victim was unaware of the situation until she made contact with the officers outside the residence, Dupree said. Police were unable to discover a connection to Yonce that could have explained why he was in Peachtree City, Dupree added.

“We were very fortunate,” Dupree said. “We don't know what this guy was going to do."

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