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Police investigating disturbing incident

Photos taken of woman in bathroom, posted to web
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The owner of a Nelson hotel is “devastated and appalled” as police search for the culprit who took photos of a female employee changing in a staff washroom and then posted the photos to a website.

‘We suspect that a camera was hidden in a bag or other belongings and then placed in a staff washroom. The safety and well-being of our team is the top priority, and we are fully co-operating with authorities in their investigation,” said Jimmy Bundschuh, owner of the Savoy Hotel on west Baker Street.

Sgt. Nate Holt of Nelson police said it’s been determined several photos were taken of the female staffer on November 28, 2017.

‘There was a date stamp on the images,” said Sgt. Holt, adding between four and five photos of the woman were uploaded to an international photosharing website that features anonymous women in various states of undress.

The photos were discovered by the victim on Feb. 19 and the photos were deleted by the web provider a short time later, said Sgt. Holt.

Bundschuh said the photos of the staffer were taken while she changing into uniform.

Nelson police were alerted March 1 and are continuing to investigate the incident.

‘The fact that it was a staff washroom should make it a bit easier in determining who had access,” said Holt, adding that police are urging anyone else who may have been similarly victimized to contact police.

“We have nothing to indicate it’s not isolated,” he said.

But Bundschuh said he has been told about a similar incident involving a female staff member at a Nelson restaurant.

The Savoy staff member who lodged the complaint continues to work at the hotel.

The hotel owner issued a press release Wednesday, saying he was “both devasted and appalled to have learned” of the incident.

‘I’d like to believe that all people are good but, sad as it is, there are people out there committing these crimes. The purpose of this press release is to bring awareness to this issue and to let the public and other business owners know that these crimes are happening in our community. We also hope that by coming forward with this information we will help to prevent this from happening to anyone else,” said Bundschuh.

“We encourage the public to come forward should they have any information that could help the investigation. Please contact Nelson city police.”