Sex offender arrested at Barnes & Noble, Bella Terra

Huntington Beach police arrested a registered sex offender Saturday after two customers reported he was following them and making suggestive comments at Barnes & Noble at Bella Terra.

About 6:30 p.m., a 15-year-old girl reported that Charles Michael Metcalf, 53, of Tustin, was following her around the store, and she went to find her adult sister, who was also inside the store, Lt. Russell Reinhart said. Metcalf then allegedly approached the sisters and began making sexually suggestive comments, and the sisters went to the store manager, who called police.

Metcalf started to leave the store and was approached by store security, who advised that police were on the way, Reinhart said. Metcalf left, but security followed and flagged down police, who arrested him near a bus stop.

Metcalf was arrested on suspicion of child annoyance, being out of compliance with his registration and a parole violation. He was booked at the Huntington Beach City Jail without bail and later transferred to the Orange County Jail.

According to court records, Metcalf was convicted of annoying or molesting a child younger than 18 in 2008.

— Michael Miller