ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An employee who was cleaning a Casita Taqueria restroom found a hidden cell phone and camera that was recording video on Saturday, according to St. Petersburg Police.

  • Incident occurred July 28
  • Employee believed to be responsible fired
  • Think you're a victim? Call St. Pete Police: (727) 893-7780

“When she grabbed it (cell phone), she realized it was recording live,” said police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez. “That’s when she started looking around for the camera and she found it.”

Fernandez said detectives took into evidence that camera and cell phone. The incident happened at the Casita Taqueria located at 2663 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“This phone was specifically recording people entering the restroom. Going to the bathroom,” said Fernandez. “This is a big concern, so we’re working very hard on this case.” 

Fernandez said they haven’t been able to identify any video voyeurism victims or develop a suspect because detectives are waiting for a search warrant.

“It’s hard for us to tell at this point how long that might have been recording or what images are recorded on there,” she said. “The restaurant has been cooperative.”

The owners of Casita Taqueria, Don and Gwen Arvin, told us that they immediately fired a male employee they believe is responsible. That employee has also been trespassed from all their restaurants. 

"He was like family to us,” the Arvins released in a statement. "We're devastated by this and obviously had no knowledge. We contacted police immediately."

Fernandez said anyone who recently visited the restaurant, used the bathroom and believes they might be a victim should contact police.

“It’s a safe bet to say if you visited the restroom while you were at their restaurant in the last few days,” she said. “Maybe Thursday, Friday, Saturday and you feel like you might have been victimized then give us a call.”

Anyone with information about this case can call St. Petersburg Police at (727) 893-7780.