Berkeley Man Caught Peeping, Recording Petaluma Hotel Guests: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A Berkeley man was arrested Tuesday night in Petaluma on suspicion of unlawful peeping after he was allegedly caught looking under guests' doors at the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma hotel, according to the Petaluma Police Department. Javier Martinez, 30, is also suspected of illegally recording one of the guests, police Sgt. Lance Novello said in a news release.

Novello said officers were dispatched at about 6 p.m. Tuesday to the hotel at 745 Baywood Drive to assist staff in removing Martinez from the premises.

Two hotel guests — one of whom was a victim of Martinez's alleged activities — told officers that the night before, Martinez was seen on his hands and knees looking under guests' doors.

"The victim told officers he briefly spoke with Martinez in the hotel lounge the previous evening, but otherwise did not know him," Novello said. "Officers also learned Martinez had changed his original room to that guest’s adjoining room and had been staying at the hotel for over one week."

When contacted by police, Martinez "admitted to looking under doors to determine which ones were corner rooms, so he could change his room to one of them," Novello said.

Officers proceeded to search Martinez's room, where they allegedly found electronic recording devices, external electronic data storage devices, fiber-optic cameras and tools that could be used to install the cameras.

"One of the cameras was found under the victim’s adjoining door and actively recording," Novello said.

Confronted by this, Martinez told officers his activities were innocent in nature and inspired by TV reality shows, the sergeant said.

Information gathered during the investigation suggested Martinez is a frequent guest of Sheraton hotels, Novello said.

Further, because of the amount of electronic data seized, Petaluma police believe there are potentially more victims.

Martinez was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion unlawful peeping. Wednesday morning, jail records indicated the suspected hotel voyeur has since been released from custody.

Novello said anyone with information related to Martinez's suspected activities should call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.

Jail booking photo courtesy Petaluma Police Department