Arrest made in Planet Fitness employee unauthorized video taping
Contact Persons:
Captain Shawn Bride
231-724-6751
Director Jeffrey Lewis231-724-6955
On Wednesday, February 12th, 2014 at 0717 hours Officers of the Muskegon Police Department responded to 2520 Henry St, Planet Fitness, on a report of a woman having been video-taped against her wishes. At the same time, a male employee of the business called 911 to report that his cell phone had been stolen.
Responding Officers met with the female victim, a 21 year old Norton Shores resident. The victim told Officers that she disrobed in a private tanning booth, tanned, and at the conclusion of her tanning session found a cell phone concealed in the room recording her. The victim seized the cell phone and turned it over to Officers.
Officers also met with the owner of the cell phone. This subject, a 25 year old male resident of Norton Shores stated that he is an employee of the business and he claimed that someone had stolen his phone while he was working. During subsequent interviews the cell phone’s owner admitted that his phone had not been stolen, and that he has in fact concealed it, unbeknownst to the victim and his employer, in the tanning room to record the victim.
The male admitted to recording several different customers while they tanned. He claimed that he watched the recordings and then immediately deleted them. Search warrants were executed on the cell phone and at the suspect’s residence. Using forensic protocols, Detectives found no evidence to suggest that the recordings the suspect made were ever saved or otherwise shared.
Working closely in conjunction with the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office, Investigators from the Muskegon Police Department obtained and served arrest warrants on the male suspect this morning, February 14th, 2014. The male suspect is currently lodged in the Muskegon County Jail on two felony charges; Capturing/Distributing Images of an Unclothed Person, and a False Report of a Felony.
Authorized release:
Director of Public Safety Administrative Offices.