Video Images by Mall Voyeur Unidentifiable

Update Posted June 12: The man accused of placing a hidden camera in a restroom at a Westfield Brandon Starbucks has been found dead in a hotel room in Punta Gorda. Detective Larry McKinnon reported that foul play is not suspected in the June 12 death of Eric Arthur Efaw, whose death was reported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. The case remains “an open death investigation.”  

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The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has received a large volume of calls from extremely concerned individuals, especially parents, expressing concerns about their children being possibly recorded while using the restroom at the Starbucks coffee shop at Westfield Brandon near Dick's Sporting Goods.

According to a sheriff's report, detectives have indicated that the video was filmed in a unisex, single-toilet restroom. So far, they have not seen any children or any identifiable facial images. They will continue to process and review the seized recordings.

"If any identifiable facial images are seen, we will send out additional
updates asking for the public's assistance to help identify those images," said sheriff's spokesman Detective Larry McKinnon. "We hope this update will help relieve any anxiety anyone may be experiencing, especially those parents who are concerned that their children's bathroom activities may have been captured on video.

A Riverview man was arrested for video voyeurism June 8 following the discovery of a video device in the restroom at Starbucks in Westfield Brandon mall.

Arrested and charged with voyeurism is Eric Arthur Efaw, 34, of 7305 Forest Mere Drive, Riverview. Efaw has been released on bail.

According to a sheriff's report, on May 31 deputies responded to the Starbucks in the mall after receiving a complaint from the coffee shop's manager.

The manager of the Starbucks near Dick's Sporting Goods reported that she has discovered and removed a video device that had been taped to a pipe underneath the sink in the unisex bathroom at the shop.  The manager first discovered the device at 1:30 p.m. May 31.

Detectives reviewed the images from the camera device that positively identified the Efaw. Detectives discovered that Efaw apparently had the camera on when he walked to his car with the camera and opened his trunk. The video showed his license plate.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and went to his residence where he was
arrested without incident.  Efaw admitted to placing the camera in the restroom and stated he had previously done so approximately six to seven times in the past two months. He said he would place the camera in the Starbucks restroom and then retrieve it later.

The investigation is continuing.