WINTER PARK, Fla. – A hidden camera investigation inside a popular Winter Park coffee shop has now led to an arrest after police say customers were secretly recorded inside a restroom over multiple days.
According to an arrest affidavit, hidden cameras were discovered inside the restroom at Barnie’s Coffee & Tea on Park Avenue on March 22, March 25, and again on April 28.
Investigators arrested 27-year-old Nicolas Sebastian Esparza on a charge of digital voyeurism.
Police say surveillance video showed Esparza placing a hidden camera inside the restroom. According to the report, one of his law professors at Barry University later identified him from surveillance images.
Investigators say one memory card contained video of 18 people inside the restroom, including men, women, and children.
News of the arrest is alarming some regular customers at the popular Winter Park coffee shop.
“I think it’s disgusting and appalling that in this day and age you have to be careful, to be leery of the bathrooms you use,” said Niki Estrada, who was visiting Barnie’s on Tuesday.
Estrada said the case now has her thinking differently about privacy in public spaces.
“You kind of got me thinking I should get some sort of device trying to detect where the cameras could be hidden,” she said.
Another customer told News 6 she believes businesses should take more responsibility for preventing hidden cameras inside restrooms.
“That should fall on the business owners,” she said. “You’re running an establishment, you have bathrooms, you need to do your due diligence.”
News 6 contacted Barnie’s management for comment. A manager responded, “Thank you for the inquiry. We will let law enforcement provide any comments.”
Barry University also sent News 6 a statement saying:
“Barry University is aware of an off-campus incident involving a law student and continues to assist law enforcement as appropriate. Due to privacy laws, we cannot comment on any student’s enrollment status.”
The News 6 Neighborhood Network also received messages from viewers concerned they may have visited the restroom during the time investigators say the cameras were placed there.
One woman told News 6 she and her mother regularly visit Barnie’s on weekends. After contacting Winter Park police, she said investigators were “very helpful” and eager for any information connected to the case.
She now urges anyone who believes they may have been recorded — or who may have information that could help investigators — to contact Winter Park police immediately.