Police arrest man after hidden camera found in restroom at Columbia Public Library
Police arrested a man Thursday after a camera was found in a public restroom at the Columbia Public Library.
According to a news release, officers arrested Jay Robinson, 42, of Boone County.
Police said officers recovered video from the camera showing Robinson hiding the camera. Police also said the camera captured video of patrons using the restroom.
The library also sent a release about the arrest.
According to the library, the camera was found in a public restroom on the first floor of the library near the children’s area. Police told the library there were no revealing images of minors on the camera, the release said.
The library also said security footage from the building showed Robinson arriving at the library around 9:20 a.m. Thursday. A patron and her son discovered the camera around 11:15 a.m. and officers arrested Robinson around 1:20 pm. in the library’s parking lot.
“We are grateful to the patrons who discovered the camera and turned it over to library staff. Our staff handled the situation professionally and quickly notified the police,” says Elinor Barrett, associate director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library. “We are also grateful to the Columbia Police Department, who responded immediately and apprehended Robinson within two hours of the camera being found.”
Patrons who visited the library Thursday may contact the library with questions by calling (573) 443-3161.
Barrett told ABC 17 News that library staff would check bathrooms closely during their cleaning routine. In her 40 years working at the library, she said something like this had never happened before.
“It’s shocking and sad that somebody would make a public resource like the library, which is just purely for people to use and enjoy and benefit from, and to take advantage of that trust,” Barrett said.
At least three people, including Robinson, have been accused this year of taking pictures of people in library bathrooms. University of Missouri police arrested Jacob Vanderlinde in March and Austin Miller in May for allegedly taking pictures of men using stalls at Ellis Library. Both face felony invasion of privacy charges.
Robinson has not yet been formally charged.
Barrett said the library hires off-duty Columbia police officers to work security. The officers are in uniform, and can make arrests and investigate crimes, despite not working a shift at CPD. City spokesman Steve Sapp said this has long been the practice at the department for any business that wants the extra security, and allows officers to make more money.
Barrett said the library issued a trespassing order against Robinson.
