Another man charged for taking pictures of people in a bathroom at Ellis Library
UPDATE: The University of Missouri released a statement about the incidents.
“We commend the victims in these cases for coming forward and reporting these crimes to Ellis Library staff and the University of Missouri Police Department. It was their willingness to share their experience that led to the arrest of the suspects in these two incidents.
Ellis Library has around-the-clock security at all entrances and exits. In additiona, a security officer sweeps the entire facility every hour, monitoring 40 separate checkpoints. The library also has numerous security cameras stationed throughout the building, including all entrances and outside the restrooms.
We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity on campus. Once a report is made, MUPD can investigate the incident and hopefully, as in these cases, identify a suspect and make an arrest.”
ORIGINAL STORY: A former Columbia Public Schools teacher is now charged with invasion of privacy after police said he admitted to taking several photos of two men using a bathroom at Ellis Library on the University of Missouri campus in April.
According to charging documents, Austin Miller was continuously in the bathroom between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and took about eight photos of two different men.
Police said between 5:30 and 6:00, Miller took photos of a man sitting on a toilet in a bathroom stall. Miller is accused of taking the photos of C.S. over the top of the bathroom stall that divided them.
Police were able to identify Miller from video surveillance footage. They contacted Miller on May 8 for an interview, and he admitted to taking two photos of C.S. and six photos of another man without their consent.
Police have seized Miller’s phone and court documents indicate they’re applying for a search warrant to examine Miller’s phone.
This is the second time in two months someone has been arrested for taking photos of people in the Ellis Library bathroom without their consent. Prosecutors charged Jacob Vanderline in April after he admitted he had taken photos of people without their permission on three different occasions over the course of six months at the library.
