Harrison Thorp 4;28 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 4:27 pm
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Editor's note: Police continue to seek interviews of some current and former Revolution staff. An earlier version of this story was incorrect. We apologize for any confusion.
ROCHESTER - In a scenario that sounds disturbingly similar to a 2013 case, police today continue a months-long investigation into who placed a camera inside a Rochester business's bathroom.
Rochester Police say they were told about the camera by management at Revolution Taproom and Grill on New Year's Day, but kept the case confidential until now because they had thought that would better enable them in identifying a suspect.
But Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said today they have switched gears and are now hoping that public awareness of what happened may garner some new leads.
Since the bathroom was for employees only, Pinkham said they have talked with many current and former staff, but some have still not been interviewed.
There are no suspects in the case. When asked if there were any persons of interest, Pinkham said he couldn't say yes or no.
The camera, which was found without a sim card or battery power, had been installed inside a clothes hook, which as some point fell off, revealing its evil intent and the camera inside.
The camera was found to have been aimed at the toilet in a restroom inside the kitchen and intended only for staff.
Pinkham said the camera didn't have the capability to upload images to a computer network, meaning the suspect would have had to take the sim card out for upload.
Rochester Police said they couldn't release pictures of the camera as it has been logged as evidence.
Pinkham noted that when they tried to record onto a sim card it didn't work.
Revolution staff combed the building for any other cameras immediately after it was reported to police and found nothing.
The last time Rochester was jarred by such a craven act was in October 2013 when former Foster's Daily Democrat and Rochester Times reporter Conor Makem was arrested on 19 counts of Invasion of Privacy for setting up a camera in a bathroom inside Merchants Plaza where Foster's had a news bureau.
Makem pleaded guilty to all 19 counts as well as trying to destroy the camera after it was discovered. He was sentenced to a year in county jail on May 30, 2014.
Authorities ask anyone with additional information about the Revolution case is asked to call the Rochester Police Department at (603) 330-7127.
Tips can be reported anonymously by calling the Rochester CrimeLine at (603) 335-6500 or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637) with TEXT4CASH in the body of the text. Up to $1,000 is awarded for tips that lead to an arrest.