Employees at North Beach Bar and Grill on Tybee Island, Georgia, made a discovery on Sept. 17 that no workplace should ever have to deal with: a small hidden camera tucked beneath a shelf in one restroom, and a second camera sitting on top of an air freshener in the other. Police arrested 48-year-old Larry Walter Chase, an employee at the restaurant, and charged him with unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance. Detectives who reviewed the cameras’ memory found footage of multiple people using the restrooms.
A search of Chase’s home turned up computers, cellphones, a tablet and thumb drives, all now under forensic review. Tybee Island police say additional charges are possible as the investigation moves forward. The restaurant’s owner, George Spriggs, called the situation deeply disturbing and apologized to anyone affected. One visitor to the area told reporters the news was disgusting and scary, and wondered aloud whether parents now need to scan a restroom before sending a child inside.
For those of us here on the Suncoast, the case is a reminder about the places we all assume are private. We live in a region that hosts millions of visitors, from Siesta Key to Anna Maria to the spring training crowds in Sarasota and Bradenton. Public restrooms get heavy use, and the best defense is simple awareness. If a shelf, hook or air freshener looks off, trust that instinct and speak up. If something seems criminal, call police.
Have you ever noticed something out of place in a public restroom? Tell us in the comments.
