Man Arrested for Hidden Camera in Parkland Coffee Shop Bathroom

A man has been arrested after allegedly recording people in the bathroom of Carmela Coffee Bar in Parkland, authorities said.

Christopher James Turk, 31, faces a charge of video voyeurism. The incident occurred at the coffee shop located at 7967 University Drive.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, an anonymous customer left a note for management on April 21, warning that a man in a gray T-shirt labeled “maintenance” had placed a phone in the restroom’s toiletries drawer to secretly record patrons on April 14.

The next day, a staff member recognized the suspect, now identified as Turk, when he returned to the shop. After Turk went into the unisex bathroom and came back out, the employee checked the cabinet and found a phone with its camera aimed at the toilet. The employee took a photo of the setup and called police.

To prevent Turk from retrieving the device, another employee stayed inside the bathroom until officers arrived. Surveillance video later showed Turk frequently glancing at his Apple Watch while seated outside the restroom.

Authorities questioned Turk at the scene. While parts of his statement were redacted from the report, officials say he gave a confession. A search warrant was issued to review any videos stored on the phone, though the number of potential victims remains unknown.

Turk was booked into jail and later released on a $2,500 bond. As part of his release conditions, he must stay away from the coffee shop and is prohibited from possessing any electronic recording devices.