A disturbing incident at a Miami dance studio has sparked outrage after a man was caught on video sniffing the seat where an underage girl had been sitting moments earlier.
The unsettling footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows a young girl sitting on a couch decorated with several pillows.
A few seconds into the clip, she stands up and walked away. Almost immediately, a man enters the room, appearing to be on a phone call.
He checks to see if there's anyone else around before bending down and quickly burying his face in the now-vacated couch. He then walks away.
A video online shows a man walking into a dance studio and sticking his nose in the couch cushion where an underage girl had just been sitting. Credit: X
Many people were left furious after the video went viral on social media and demanded that the police take action.
"That’s disgusting on so many levels," one person reacted, while another questioned: "What in the actual hell. That’s creepy as hell, but what will the charge be?? I’m genuinely asking.. or will he just be banned from going there again?"
A third added: "What makes it worse is the sheer blatancy of that sniff…he just went head first right into it on that one, not an ounce of subtlety or anything FFS."
The incident took place on Tuesday night as the dance studio was winding down for the evening. According to TMZ, a local dance studio owner immediately contacted authorities to report his behavior.
Miami Springs Police Chief Matthew Castillo has confirmed that officers reviewed the video footage and found the man's actions to be "strange" and highly inappropriate.
In a statement, the cop emphasized that they have since identified the man and are now working with prosecutors to determine if any criminal charges should be pursued.
He also disclosed that they are aware of his whereabouts, although his name has not been publicly released.
Police are working with prosecutors to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Credit: X
Many online users are calling for stricter safety protocols and increased surveillance in dance studios to ensure the protection of young students.
"Lock them up and throw away the key he should be nowhere near children, anyone that wants to work with children needs to be investigated very closely that goes for men and women," one person declared.
A second chimed in: "This is disturbing, Authorities getting involved is the right move, no space for this kind of behavior, especially around kids."