Charges dropped against man accused of snapping pics of boy in North Babylon restaurant bathroom

NORTH BABYLON, N.Y. (WABC) -- All charges have been dropped against a man accused of taking pictures of a young boy in a restaurant bathroom on Long Island.

Luis Flores, Jr., was arrested in North Babylon five months ago after authorities said he leaned over a bathroom stall at the Hibachi Grill and snapped photos with a cell phone of an 8-year-old boy.

He said all along that he didn't do it, speaking to Eyewitness News reporter Kristin Thorne back in June and proclaiming his innocence.

Now, he'll try to get his life back.

"This is without question a beautiful, priceless victory," he said. "And I'm so happy and proud."

Flores knew in his heart this day would come, when the charges against him would be dismissed.

"This is just such a blessing right now," he said. "Right now, it's just to move forward and get my life back together."

It was back in May when they boy claimed someone reached a hand over a stall and took pictures of him. Days later, police arrested Flores, who voluntarily turned over his cell phone because he knew he didn't do anything wrong.

His mother never stopped believing him.

"We're just thankful everything worked out," Maribel Flores said. "We knew it from the beginning."

Flores lost both of his jobs and went into hiding, but on Wednesday, prosecutors revealed they don't have enough evidence to pursue the case, that no pictures or videos from inside the restroom were ever found on Flores' phone.

And nothing had been deleted, either.

"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," attorney Matt Tuohy said. "It's just another situation when people rush to judgement."

Eyewitness News reached out to the Suffolk County Police Department about the incident, and officials said they wouldn't comment. When asked if he'd pursue a lawsuit against the department, Flores said he is just taking it one day at a time.