Man With Video Camera Caught Hiding In Women's Bathroom
LAST UPDATE: 5/19/2005 12:22:37 AM

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(ABC 4 News)-- Police have arrested a Utah man, who was allegedly caught in the act --trying to snap a photograph of a woman, as she sat in a restroom at Salt Lake's Liberty Park.

The woman entered the restroom Tuesday afternoon, and claims she didn't see anyone else inside.  She walked into one of the stalls, when she noticed a video camera near the ground --pointing directly at her.  Officials say the victim ran out of the restroom and told her boyfriend.

"The boyfriend then waited for our suspect to exit the bathroom," said Det. Dwayne Baird of the Salt Lake City Police Dept.  "[He] stopped and detained the suspect until police arrived."

The suspect is Manuel Rodriguez-Cano, 30, and judging from the videotape inside his camcorder, police believe he spent several hours hiding inside the woman's bathroom.  Perhaps even more disturbing, is that among the many people on the tape appears to be a young girl.

That discovery means that Rodriguez-Cano may face an additional felony charge.  Authorities hope that this disturbing incident serves as a wake-up call to all parents, to never send children into the restrooms alone.

"Watch for their safety and be aware of your surroundings," Baird said.  "Protect your child from this kind of activity."

Restroom stalls at Liberty Park are currently being phased out, and will eventually be replaced by individual restrooms.