An Iowa pervert allegedly hid cameras inside porta-potties to film dozens of people, including children, during local events, according to authorities and reports.
Tyler Pavlick, 32, of Des Moines, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor to engage in an act and three counts of invasion of privacy involving nudity for allegedly stashing cameras inside porta-potties, the Des Moines Police Department told WHO13.
Pavlick allegedly installed a camera under the toilet seat to secretly record dozens of adults and children during two different local events, KCRG reported.
One camera was discovered in a porta john at the Harvest & Handmade Fair at Water Works Park in Des Moines on Oct. 4, the outlet reported.
The camera had filmed unknowing adults and children as they entered the porta-potty and used the toilet, Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department told WHO13.
On Thursday, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office announced they were also investigating Pavlick after a camera was discovered in a porta-potty at the Lincoln Valley Gold Course in State Center on Sept. 23.
The West Marshall Community School District was hosting several other districts for a cross-country meet for middle school and high school students on the golf course at the time, cops said in a news release.
Pavlick allegedly installed the camera at 3:39 p.m., before the cross-country races for the students began, then left the scene, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WHO13.
A group alerted police to the concealed camera, and it was “removed and turned over to law enforcement,” police said.
“School officials were notified immediately; interviews of potential witnesses were conducted along with securing potential surveillance video that may have captured evidence of the person or persons involved,” the sheriff’s department wrote.
After piecing together a possible person of interest, cops were informed by the Des Moines police detectives that they were investigating a similar incident.
Authorities uncovered digital evidence linking the perv to both incidents, police added.
He was hit with a slew of additional charges, including 36 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor-cause to engage in an act, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor to promote film, and 52 counts of invasion of privacy involving nudity, officials told the outlet.
Pavlick is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond in the Des Moines case, the outlet reported.
He will return to court next Monday.