A 33-year-old Beachwood man was arrested and charged with voyeurism at the Great Lakes Mall on Tuesday, according to the Mentor Police Department.
Police officers responded to the mall's food court at 7850 Mentor Ave. in reference to an incident in the mall restroom, Mentor PD said.
According to police, a man called 911 after witnessing another man possibly record the caller's 11-year-old son while using the urinal in the men's bathroom.
Mentor Police said officers responded and identified the man as Joshua Yanowitz. After a brief interview, police arrested and charged the 33-year-old with the felony.
Body cam footage from Mentor police shows police asking the suspect if he was recording young men on his phone. Yanowitz responded, "it may be true a little bit, yeah ."
When asked why he would film a young boy, Yanowitz responded, " I couldn't even say or explain."
Yanowitz pleaded not guilty and has a preliminary hearing on January 8th.
In a statement from Great Lakes Mall they told News 5, “The safety of our guests, retailers and employees is our top priority. We are working closely with Mentor police department as they investigate this incident. For more information, please contact mentor police department."
Police said this is a good reminder of how important it is to properly supervise young children when they use public restrooms.
