'Serial Butt Sniffer' Calese Crowder Held No Bail After Terrorising California Women for Over a Decade

Calese Crowder, a registered sex offender who has become notorious online as the 'butt sniffer,' has been arrested again in California after police said he was allegedly caught attempting to sniff people at two Glendale businesses.

The 39-year-old was taken into custody recently after Glendale police received reports about a man behaving suspiciously around shoppers. Officers later reviewed surveillance footage from the businesses and identified Crowder, who was subsequently arrested on suspicion of violating the terms of his parole. He was being held without bail, according to jail records.

Crowder's latest arrest has revived attention around a string of similar incidents dating back several years, including encounters in Glendale and neighbouring Burbank.

Crowder Allegedly Targeted Women at Two Stores

Police were first called to a business in Glendale's 1500 block of West Glenoaks Boulevard at around 3:30pm after reports of a man who appeared to be crouching down and getting unusually close to other people.

A second report was then made at a nearby Marshalls store concerning similar behaviour. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from both locations and were able to identify Crowder, according to Glendale police. Crowder was later located on South Brand Boulevard and taken into custody.

Police have not said that the latest incidents resulted in charges for assault or other offences against the women involved. Instead, his immediate arrest was linked to an alleged violation of his parole, with the investigation continuing and the case potentially being submitted to prosecutors.

The Viral 'Butt Sniffer' History

Crowder's unusual behaviour first attracted widespread attention after a woman posted footage online in 2023 that allegedly showed him crouching behind her at a Barnes & Noble in Burbank.

The video appeared to show Crowder moving close to women browsing books before crouching behind them. The footage subsequently went viral on TikTok, helping establish the nickname that has followed him in subsequent reports.

Police say Crowder's history of similar allegations in Glendale and Burbank dates back to 2021. He was also arrested in 2023 after allegedly peeping into a family's home in Glendale.

His criminal history extends beyond the incidents involving women. According to CBS Los Angeles, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records show Crowder previously served time for offences including controlled-substance possession, burglary and robbery. He was released to parole supervision in June 2025 after serving time for attempted first-degree burglary.

Two Arrests in 2025

Crowder was arrested twice in Burbank in July and August 2025 following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

In July, police arrested him after surveillance footage allegedly showed him following a woman at a Nordstrom Rack, crouching near her and sniffing her buttocks. He was charged with loitering with intent to commit a crime and initially had bail set at $100,000 (£74,000), according to a Burbank Police Department release.

Less than a month later, Crowder was arrested again after allegedly sniffing a woman's behind inside a Walgreens store. At the time, police described him as a registered sex offender with a documented history of similar arrests in Glendale and Burbank.

His legal troubles continued into 2026. NBC Los Angeles reported that Crowder was sentenced to 105 days in jail in April for a parole violation, following earlier periods of custody related to parole and registration issues.

Why Is Crowder Being Held Without Bail?

Crowder's latest detention is connected to his parole status rather than a newly announced conviction over the alleged behaviour at the Glendale stores. Police say he was arrested for violating the terms of his parole, while jail records show that he is being held without bail as he awaits his next court hearing.

The case remains under investigation, meaning allegations surrounding the latest incidents should not be treated as proven criminal conduct unless prosecutors or a court establish otherwise.

For now, the arrest has once again brought Crowder's history into the spotlight, with authorities continuing to investigate reports of his alleged behaviour around women in Southern California stores.