Man arrested after hidden camera found in a Starbucks restroom in Orange County
A man has been arrested on suspicion of hiding a camera inside a Starbucks restroom and filming at least half a dozen customers, police said Tuesday.
Melcher Carrilloalvarado, 44, of La Habra, turned himself in to detectives more than a day after police released a photo of a person of interest in the case, according to the Brea Police Department.
After police interviewed Carrilloalvarado, he was taken into custody.
Police said Carrilloalvarado was seen hanging around the bathroom just before the camera was discovered at 11 p.m. Friday by a woman using the restroom. She removed the camera and called police.
The device was a miniature video camera, police said. Video obtained from the camera showed several people using the restroom. At least seven people, all adults, were identified in the video.
It was the second such camera found hidden in an Orange County restaurant restroom in three weeks.
The first was discovered at a Del Taco restaurant in the 700 block of Beach Boulevard in La Habra.
Detectives recovered footage from the small camera, showing several people. La Habra police said they don’t know how long the camera had been hidden inside the restroom.
Del Taco offered a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the camera.
“We are in full cooperation with the La Habra Police Department to help identify the outside party that violated the safety and security of both our guests and employees; a matter that is of the utmost importance to Del Taco,” the company said in a statement.
Anyone with information about the Del Taco camera is asked to call La Habra police at (562) 383-4362.
Anyone with information about the Brea camera should call Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227. Those who think they may have been filmed at the Brea Starbucks are asked to contact Det. Irene Crews at irenec@cityofbrea.net.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA.
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