New York police arrested a middle school teacher on Monday who is suspected of planting a camera in a staff bathroom.
The Colonie Police Department was notified by Sand Creek Middle School of a suspicious device that looked like a phone charger found in an employee bathroom at the school. After investigating the device, it was determined it was a “functioning covert camera” and contained videos and images of multiple male and female faculty members in various stages of undress, according to a CPD press release.
CPD identified the person responsible for the camera’s placement as Patrick Morgan, 57, and arrested him on Monday. Authorities could not specify to the Washington Examiner what subject Morgan taught at the school, only confirming that he taught the fifth grade.
The press release put out on CPD’s social media said that Morgan, a teacher at the school for 28 years, was charged with two counts of unlawful surveillance. CPD told the Washington Examiner that the number has increased to 22 counts.
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Morgan pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to the counts. The Town of Colonie Justice Court released him under the supervision of probation and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation, WNYT reported.
Sandy Creek announced on Monday that it would close for the day and also placed Morgan on administrative leave. David Perry, the superintendent of the South Colonie Central School District, wrote there is no indication that students were affected by Morgan’s actions.
“The South Colonie administration team has been working closely with the Colonie Police Department over the past few days during its investigation and will continue to do so until the investigation is completed,” Perry wrote.
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Authorities do not believe there are any other covert cameras on school property. Additionally, CPD said search warrants are being executed at Morgan’s home and that efforts will be made to identify any other victims and to determine if the videos recorded by the camera were distributed anywhere.
