Video Voyeur Targeted Female Deputy In Publix Bathroom: Sheriff's Office

RIVERVIEW, FL — A 28-year-old Riverview man is in hot water after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says he tried to use a cellphone to record a female detective using a public restroom.

The case against James McEwen began to unfold just after 2 p.m. Jan. 4. According to the sheriff’s office, a female plain-clothes detective watched as McEwen went into the women’s restroom at the 3863 U.S. 301 Publix. The detective followed him inside, went into an individual stall and locked the door behind her, an email from the agency said.

“While in the stall, the detective noticed the shadow of a person holding a phone, whom appeared to be video recording her from within a stall next to her,” the email said. “The detective utilized her own surveillance equipment and confirmed that McEwen was video recording her attempt to use the restroom.”

The detective then left her stall and arrested McEwen without incident on a charge of sex offense video voyeurism.

Following his arrest, the sheriff’s office said McEwen admitted to taking video of the detective and acknowledged he did not have permission to do so.

Detectives seized McEwen’s cellphone and intend to execute a search warrant to see if there might be any other victims. People who believe they may be a victim of McEwen’s “illegal video recording” are being asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200.

Detectives were areadly investigating McEwen as a suspect in another similar incident when he was spotted at the Publix store, the agency reported. Details about the other case are not being released at this time.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office