A man has turned himself into authorities for allegedly hiding a spy camera in a Starbucks bathroom. On Monday, a woman using the unisex Starbucks restroom in Brea, Calif., discovered the device — about the size of a large pen — attached to a shelf, reports KTLA. The woman removed the hidden camera and reported it to police.
Authorities say seven victims were filmed before the camera was found. Following the incident, police released the photo of an unidentified suspect who witnesses observed loitering in the area.
Just before camera found in Starbucks bathroom this subject was seen in area. Detectives would like to interview him pic.twitter.com/qjDxKktmHY
— Brea Police Dept (@BreaPD) August 17, 2015
On Tuesday, 44-year-old Melchor Carrillo Alvarado, turned himself into police, citing "extensive media coverage." Alvarado has been booked on seven misdemeanor counts.
It's not immediately clear how long the camera was in the restroom, but a spokesperson for the coffee chain says its restrooms are monitored. "We take our obligation to provide a safe environment for our customers and partners [employees] very seriously." Adding, "As a part of regular store operations, we monitor the seating areas and restrooms in our stores on a regular basis to identify potential safety or security concerns."
Starbucks has a long history of creepy incidents involving restroom cameras, though the chain claims it's an "extremely rare" occurrence. Last month, a 5-year-old discovered a hidden cell phone recording video underneath the bathroom sink in another Southern California location.