‘It’s a real shock for everyone here’: Tybee mayor reacts to restaurant camera arrest

by Steven Glover

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - The discovery of hidden recording devices inside the restrooms of a popular Tybee Island restaurant is drawing strong reactions from local city leadership and visitors.

On Thursday, Tybee Island Mayor Brian West addressed the community fallout following the arrest of a former North Beach Bar and Grill employee accused of placing cameras in the restaurant’s bathrooms.

“It’s a real shock for everyone here,” West said.

West emphasized that the people of Tybee Island do not tolerate this type of behavior and expressed support for the restaurant, describing North Beach Bar and Grill as a long-time, respected community staple.

“The North Beach Bar and Grill is a great place, it has great leadership, long-time employees that are really good people,” West said. “We know that this isn’t something that the leadership would stand for, and I’m glad it’s taken care of and [we can] move forward.”

The revelations have also rattled families visiting the island for early fall getaways. Molly Cook, who is visiting Tybee Island with her family from Atlanta, said she learned about the arrest after seeing WTOC’s report on TikTok.

“I feel disgusted after hearing that, to be honest. We just ate right next door the night before that,” Cook said.

Cook added that she and other families are left wondering about the scope of the alleged recordings and how many people might have unknowingly been captured on video.

“How many families has he affected by this? And them not know, you know. Like, little kids’ faces, grown women, like who knows—grown men? I don’t know,” Cook said.

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

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has stepped in to assist Tybee Island police in conducting computer forensic examinations on computers, cellphones, a tablet, and thumb drives seized from the suspect’s home.

Leadership at North Beach Bar and Grill has scheduled a media availability for Friday morning at 10 a.m. to take questions regarding the incident.