SW Bend store owner accused of hiding camera in bathroom

The owner of a southwest Bend scuba and water sports business has been charged with invasion of personal privacy after someone found a camera hidden in the store’s bathroom, police said Friday.

The 20-year-old Bend resident filed a complaint with police last Saturday of finding a camera in the bathroom of Fins Scuba and Water Sports at 155 SW Century Drive, Lieutenant Clint Burleigh said.

The victim said they found a wireless camera concealed in the bathroom last Friday and confronted the owner of the business, Dennis James Snyder, 63, about it.

On Tuesday, Bend police sought and were granted search warrants for the business, as well as Snyder’s home in rural Deschutes County, Burleigh said. Evidence was obtained in the search, and Snyder was arrested by citation and ordered to appear in Deschutes County Circuit Court on a charge of invasion of personal privacy, a Class A misdemeanor.

“This incident is concerning,” Burleigh said in a news release, “as the camera was found in a bathroom that was open to customers and employees” of the business.

Burleigh said several items seized during the raids require analysis as the investigation continues. He also said police don’t know how long the camera was there, or if other customers and/or employees were subjected to a violation of personal privacy.

The lieutenant said he could not at this time provide other details, such as the gender of the alleged victim or whether it was a customer or employee.