A Minneapolis man prosecutors describe as an “extreme risk” to public safety has been released from jail after posting a $300,000 bond in a case involving allegations that he spied on women through the windows of homes near the University of Minnesota.
John Searle, 55, was arrested on Monday after police said they found him near the Como neighbourhood, where witnesses had reported a man using an iPad to photograph women through a bathroom window.
He was released on Thursday night, 8 October, despite prosecutors pointing to what they described as a lengthy record of stalking and interference with privacy.
Allegations near the University of Minnesota
Court documents allege that Searle was involved in four incidents covered by three separate criminal complaints. The cases relate to alleged activity in July 2025, July 2026 and earlier this month.
In one incident, a woman told police she had seen a man crouching outside her bedroom and bathroom windows while apparently trying to record her with an iPad. Investigators later used video footage, vehicle records and mobile phone data to identify Searle as a suspect, according to the allegations.
In July this year, another resident reported a man repeatedly sitting outside her home in a company vehicle. A second woman living at the property allegedly saw the same person crouched beside a basement window on two occasions, with the man saying “sorry” before running away during the later encounter.
Police were called again on Monday after witnesses reported a prowler on Weeks Avenue Southeast. Officers said they found Searle nearby on an electric scooter, carrying an iPad. The criminal complaint alleges that videos of a naked woman in a bathroom were found in the device’s photo gallery.
Authorities have said they are investigating a number of similar reports made between 2024 and 2026 in the Como, Marcy-Holmes and University of Minnesota areas.
Decades-long criminal record
Searle’s previous dealings with law enforcement date back to 1995, when he faced allegations including stalking, lurking and interfering with privacy. CBS Minnesota reported that his record includes 10 previous convictions for stalking or interference with privacy.
In 2009, an attempt to have him civilly committed as a sexually dangerous person or someone with a psychopathic personality was dismissed, according to court records.
In a 2015 case, prosecutors alleged that Searle had recorded young women through the windows of homes near the University of St Thomas in St Paul. Investigators reportedly found multiple recordings during a search of his home.
The latest charges remain allegations and Searle has not been convicted in the current cases.
Emily Welte, a University of Minnesota student, said the allegations were “really surprising”, “disappointing” and “unsettling”, particularly because of the number of young people living in the area.
Searle is due to appear in court for a further hearing on 2 December.
