Crime & Safety

Man Accused Of Hiding Camera In Swimtastic Locker Room Named

Police learned that the victim had changed out of her swimsuit in the employee locker room and noticed a hole in a Kleenex box.

 Jacob Masbruch is awaiting charges in court, police said.
Jacob Masbruch is awaiting charges in court, police said. (Waukesha Police Photo)

WAUKESHA, WI — Police on Monday named the 21-year-old man accused of hiding a camera inside a tissue box in a locker room at Waukesha's Swimtastic Swim School earlier this month. Waukesha Police said they are recommending five counts of capturing an image of nudity without consent against Jacob Masbruch to the Waukesha County District Attorney's office. Masbruch is expected to be formally charged Monday, authorities said.

According to an update provided by Waukesha police on Friday evening, officers said they were called to the swim school at just after 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 after the owner of the business called the police saying that they had found a camera hidden in the employee locker room.

Police responded to find a 17-year-old swim Instructor who had discovered the camera. Police learned that the victim had changed out of her swimsuit in the employee locker room and noticed a hole in a Kleenex box sitting on a shelf. When she investigated the Kleenex box, she discovered a camera in it.

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According to police, she alerted another employee who then went into the room and told her he destroyed the camera. He then fled the business before police arrived. This employee was a 21-year-old man who was also a swimming instructor.

Police said Masbruch was located by the West Milwaukee Police and turned over to the Waukesha Police. A search warrant was executed on his home in search of the camera.

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According to police, on Thursday night Masbruch confessed that he used his personal phone as a camera. He discarded it at Swimtastic. This phone was then located by Swimtastic staff and handed over to police. Police are continuing a Forensic Investigation of this phone.

Waukesha police said the Swimtastic staff has been very cooperative with this investigation. Authorities noted that the camera was only ever used in the employee changing room. Police said that no clients of Swimtastic were the subject of this crime.

In a statement, swim school officials said the following: "Swimtastic is absolutely committed to providing a safe environment for our team of instructors and our clients. A situation was brought to our attention in which a hidden camera may have been planted in our employee-only dressing room. We have taken all measures to act swiftly on this concerning allegation and with proper authorities. We immediately contacted the Waukesha Police Department and have been in full cooperation with their investigation. We are also undergoing a full internal investigation. Swimtastic adheres to a strict zero-tolerance policy for any actions of misconduct. It is important that I relay that our entire facility has been inspected and there is no evidence that this took place anywhere besides the employee-only dressing room which is not accessible to the public. As the authorities keep us apprised of their investigation, we will continue to take appropriate and immediate action as needed."

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