Man charged with filming coworkers in bathroom at suburban facility, police say
Man charged after filming coworkers in bathroom at suburban food facility: police
Jesus Salazar, 45, is accused of secretly recording coworkers in the bathroom at Pures Foods Specialties in Northlake.
NORTHLAKE, Ill. - A maintenance supervisor at a suburban food facility is facing multiple charges of unauthorized videotaping after police say he secretly recorded his coworkers using the bathroom.
The hidden camera was installed inside a private, gender-neutral employee restroom at Pures Food Specialties, a cookie and snack manufacturing plant in Northlake, where at least 29 workers were unknowingly filmed, according to police.
What we know:
Jesus Salazar, a 45-year-old from Glen Ellyn, was charged in Cook County after investigators allegedly found hidden camera footage on a memory card in his backpack.
According to police, the recordings showed multiple employees at Pures Food Specialties, located at 13 East Lake Street, being filmed without their knowledge.
"They feel violated, of course, and they're having a hard time getting past this," said Peter Sadelski, an attorney with Ed Fox & Associates.
The disturbing discovery was made in January during a separate investigation.
Man charged with filming coworkers in bathroom at suburban factory, police say (FOX 32)
Glen Ellyn police arrested Salazar at that time on charges of criminal sexual assault of a minor and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance. The alleged assault occurred in September of 2024, according to DuPage County prosecutors.
During their investigation, detectives found a "mini camera with a memory card and wireless transmitter" inside Salazar's backpack, according to a police report. Detectives obtained search warrants to review all of the footage, and the report adds: "It showed employees private parts, as they utilized the bathroom at Pures Food Specialties."
The police report goes on to reveal that "one of the videos showed the offender setting up the video device inside the restroom stall."
According to the Northlake Police Department, at least 29 employees, both men and women, were secretly recorded in the bathroom. Fifteen of them were identified by the Pures Food Specialties management team, and of those 15 people, seven were interested in pursuing charges.
As a result, Salazar was charged in Cook County with seven counts of unauthorized videotaping.
"Locker rooms, bathrooms – you would expect a sense of privacy in those areas. Obviously, here, they did not have that privacy. For a period of time, they didn't even know that this was happening until he even got arrested," Sadelski said. "It must have been shocking and disgusting to know that someone videotaped them in such a compromising position without their consent and knowledge, for months at a time."
Sadelski represents two employees who were unknowingly videotaped. He says the camera was installed under the sink, facing the toilet.
"I just cried, I was overwhelmed, I was scared," one of the victims shared with Fox 32 Chicago. "I used the washroom so you can see all of our parts."
The victim who spoke out asked Fox 32 not to reveal their identity.
"I'm scared that he would get out and go work anywhere else, where there's even kids and other people where he can record. I don't want him to be able to walk free, doing the same thing he did to us, it's just horrible," the victim added.
Salazar was arraigned in Cook County Court on Tuesday morning but was released with conditions and placed on home confinement.
Victims said the violation has caused emotional distress and anxiety, and they are looking for accountability.
"Everywhere I go, I look under the sink, you never know how people think," the victim stated.
"Should not happen to anyone. It's repulsive and I really hope that they can get justice," Sadelski said.
What's next:
FOX 32 Chicago made several attempts to reach Pures Food Specialties for a statement on the matter but did not immediately hear back.
According to Sadelski, Salazar is no longer employed by the company.
Salazar now faces charges in both DuPage and Cook counties. In regard to the unauthorized videotaping charges, he is due back in court on August 25.
As it relates to the sexual assault charges in DuPage County, Salazar is set to appear before a judge on July 22.