‘I am deeply disturbed’: Owner of Tybee Island restaurant speaks out after employee arrest

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Tybee Island police have arrested a North Beach Bar and Grill employee after hidden cameras were discovered inside the restrooms of the Tybee Island restaurant.

Detectives with the Tybee Island Police Department charged 48-year-old Larry Walter Chase with unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance. Chase’s Chatham County jail record lists North Beach Bar and Grill as his employer at the time of his arrest.

Police report reveals details

Police say employees at North Beach Bar and Grill contacted officers Thursday, Sept. 17, after discovering a small camera concealed underneath a shelf in one of the restaurant’s bathrooms.

A second camera was later found on top of an air freshener in the restaurant’s other restroom.

According to police, detectives reviewing the cameras’ contents found footage of several people using the restrooms.

“I think it’s disgusting, I think it’s really scary,” said Tybee Island visitor Wayne Curry. “Hearing that it happened right up the street is pretty scary. I mean, you send your daughter to the bathroom, do you need to go in and scan the restrooms before you go in...?”

With the cooperation of the restaurant, detectives identified Chase as the suspect, police said. Chase was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 22, and booked into the Chatham County Detention Center on the charge of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance.

The investigation remains active. Police said no additional information will be released at this time.

WTOC reached out to Tybee Island police who told us they are reaching out to victims involved and says for anyone who may believe they were a victim to reach out to them.

North Beach owner speaks out

The owner of North Beach Bar & Grill is speaking out after hidden cameras were discovered in the restaurant’s bathrooms.

Owner George Spriggs said they are “deeply disturbed” by what happened and apologized to anyone who may have been affected.

Spriggs said the restaurant is fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.

He also asked that media direct questions to his representative rather than restaurant employees. Spriggs said he is currently out of town but plans to address questions personally when he returns.

The restaurant says it remains open and intends to continue providing service to guests while the investigation moves forward.