A Texas barbershop owner has been arrested after allegedly hiding a mobile phone in a women’s toilet to record people, including an employee, police said.
Jose Luis Alvarez Williams, 37, turned himself in to Denton police on 10 September after a warrant was issued accusing him of invasive visual recording at the business on South Elm Street.
The case began on 3 August when an employee discovered a phone concealed inside a box of latex gloves in the restroom at Pepe Le Barbershop. A rectangular opening had been cut into the box, with the camera lens positioned towards the toilet area.
According to an arrest affidavit, the employee recognised the phone as belonging to the business because of its distinctive case. She photographed the device and reported it to police before leaving her job.
Phone allegedly used to record people in restroom
Investigators later obtained a warrant and seized the phone from the shop on 11 August. Williams allegedly told police that he used his own phone to FaceTime the business handset, allowing him to watch and screen-record people inside the restroom.
He reportedly admitted carrying out the recordings around 10 times over the previous year, although he said he had deleted the videos. Police also allege that he acknowledged recording the employee who found the phone.
Williams initially denied involvement before later telling investigators he had recorded in the restroom on several occasions, according to the affidavit.
A Denton magistrate found probable cause for an arrest warrant. Williams was released on a $2,500 bond after surrendering to police, local reports said.
The employee’s name has not been released. The investigation remains under way and the allegations have not been tested in court.
