A 29-year-old man of no fixed address has been arrested and formally charged following a series of disturbing criminal incidents at a clothing store in Pickering. Durham Regional Police have identified the suspect as Brandon Edsel Sevilla-Zelaya. The charges stem from two separate visits to a retail establishment located within The Shops at Pickering City Centre, situated near the intersection of Kingston and Liverpool roads, which occurred earlier this spring.
The initial incident took place on March 26, 2026, when the suspect allegedly entered the store and proceeded to use a changeroom. While inside the facility, the male reportedly exposed his genitals to both staff members and customers. In a news release, Durham Regional Police confirmed that while the act was highly inappropriate and illegal, no employees or customers sustained physical injuries during this first encounter.
Escalation of Alleged Criminal Behavior
According to investigators, the same suspect returned to the retail location just days later, on April 2. During this second visit, the situation escalated significantly as the man allegedly sexually assaulted an employee of the store. Similar to the first incident, police stated that the employee did not suffer any physical injuries during the assault, although the nature of the crime has caused significant concern for public safety within the shopping center.
Following an investigation that utilized the public’s assistance via a “Help Solve a Crime” post, Sevilla-Zelaya was located and taken into custody on April 25. The 29-year-old was subsequently processed and held for a bail hearing.
Extensive List of Legal Charges
As a result of the investigation into these incidents, the accused faces a significant list of charges that have not yet been tested in court:
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Sexual Assault: Related to the incident involving the employee on April 2.
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Indecent Act: Related to the exposure in the changeroom on March 26.
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Theft Under $5,000: The suspect faces three separate counts of theft.
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Fail to Comply with Probation: A total of 12 counts have been laid regarding the breach of prior probation terms.
The Durham Regional Police remain concerned that there may be additional victims who have had similar encounters with the suspect in public spaces. They are urging anyone with further information or who may have witnessed these events at The Shops at Pickering City Centre to come forward and contact investigators directly. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers for those who wish to assist the investigation privately.
