PARKLAND, Fla. – A 31-year-old man was arrested last week after another customer discovered that he had hidden his cellphone in the bathroom of a local coffee shop in Parkland in order to film people who were using the restroom, authorities said.
According to an arrest report from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which redacted the name and address of the business, the incident was reported on April 21.
Deputies said an anonymous customer left a note in the coffee shop that was folded in half and read “management” on the outside.
“There is a man here in a gray T-shirt and glasses,” the note read. “On the back of the T-shirt the word ‘maintenance’ is written on it. On 04/14 he was here. He puts his phone in the toiletries drawer and records anyone using the restroom. You can see it on video. If you don’t believe me, please send staff to check the first bin throughout his visit.”
According to the report, an employee at the coffee shop identified the suspect, Christopher James Turk, as a regular customer.
Deputies said the employee checked the bathroom on April 22 after Turk returned to the business, and he discovered Turk’s phone in the bottom cabinet.
The employee took a photo of Turk’s phone and sent it to his boss, authorities said.
According to the report, another employee then went into the unisex bathroom and stayed there until deputies arrived so Turk wouldn’t be able to recover his phone and leave.
The report states that Turk waived his Miranda rights and told a deputy at the business that he purposely left his phone inside the bathroom because he “could not help himself.”
According to the report, Turk confessed to placing his phone in a basket inside the restroom and watching the feed from his Apple watch.
He claimed that he’s done this three times at the business, authorities said.
According to the report, Turk admitted to storing the videos in a hidden file on his phone and admitted to being investigated for a similar incident that occurred in 2022.
Turk, who lives in Parkland, was arrested last Friday on a video voyeurism charge.
He appeared in bond court Saturday where his parents told a judge that he is autistic. The judge ordered that Turk stay with his parents as he awaits trial and he must adhere to his medication schedule.