Walnut Creek police are trying to find out who might have used the restroom - and possibly might have been caught on camera doing so - at a Starbucks after they arrested a 35-year-old Benicia man on multiple counts of hiding a video camera near the toilets and sinks and secretly recording coffee shop customers.
Sgt. Mike McLaughlin said police arrested Jacob Turner at his Benicia home on Thursday with a warrant charging him with multiple counts of placing a video recording device the Starbucks at 1152 Locust St.
McLaughlin said Starbucks employees discovered a hidden video camer in the unisex bathroom on Feb. 16 and again on Tuesday, which had been recording customers. The cameras, the size of a phone, were placed under the sink.
Police would not say what led them to Turner other than that they "developed evidence" that "indicated" he was the "suspect that placed the camera."
A Starbucks spokeswoman on Friday said the company takes its "obligation to provide a safe environment" for its customers and employees seriously. And employees took "swift action as soon as they became aware of the issue," immediately calling police.
Starbucks customer Dino Adelfio was at the shop early on Friday, contemplating what he would feel like if he had been secretly filmed.
"It's kind of weird," he said.
Michelle Poloka of Lafayette added: "That’s really scary because we assume when we go to any kind of facility or any shop, that we’re safe. It’s really scary to know someone was doing that.”
