Hidden camera in Sanibel bathroom recorded for 9 days

Reporter: Claire Galt Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published:
Sanibel
Dana Caruso is accused of placing a hidden camera in a public bathroom on Sanibel. (CREDIT: WINK News)

A secret camera was left in place at a Sanibel beach room for nine days before authorities noticed it.

Dana Caruso, who was arrested, is accused of placing the camera at a bathroom facility on Bowman Beach.

New details in his 17-page arrest report show that the camera in the family bathroom was there for a while before it was noticed.

Authorities previously said 55 people, including children, were caught on the camera.

Caruso, 58, is accused of violating men, woman and children. Sanibel police said Caruso sat near the bathroom and watched people go in and out of it during those nine days. The camera was up between July 13 and July 28.

After each video, Caruso would go into the bathroom. Authorities say they found 276 videos.

A public works employee found the camera.

Caruso’s arrest report, obtained by WINK News, describes some of the videoes discovered.

They’re disturbing and graphic.

Among the worst, is a family consisting of a woman, two little boys and a girl who enter the bathroom. When the girl removes her bottom and top to change into a bathing suit, the secret camera captures her bare chest.

The camera also records both boys, under the age of 10, with their penises exposed.

And the woman is seen at different times with both her breasts and vagina exposed.

The hidden camera and resulting arrest are still on the minds of people here at Bowman Beach.

One dad, who spent the day with his son there, said he is sickened by it.

“The idea of someone filming my son. My two sons. Yeah, not good thoughts come to mind. I’m sure for any parent. God, I’m Worked up,” said Matthew Hollenbeck.

Hollenbeck said he will never let his children change in a public restroom again.

“I”ll have him change in the car, we’ll go old school with a towel around his waist,” Hollenbeck said.

The arrest report said Caruso did it for his “personal enjoyment.”

Of the 55 victims, police have identified eight so far, five of them are children.

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