News Release - For Immediate Release

August 26, 2022

City of Sanibel, FL

Contact: William Dalton, Police Chief

239-472-3711

Sanibel, FL – The City of Sanibel Police Chief William Dalton announced the arrest of Dana Alan Caruso of New Hampshire, who the Sanibel Police Department has been investigating for video voyeurism at the Bowman’s Beach Park since July 28, 2022. As a result of the investigation and the coordinated assistance of several other agencies, Caruso was arrested on August 19, 2022, in Chicago, IL, and is awaiting extradition to Lee County.

On July 28, 2022, employees with Sanibel’s Public Works Department noticed a new fire alarm device had been installed on the wall of the family restroom located at Bowman’s Beach Park. After verifying the device had not been installed by staff in the Public Works Department, the Sanibel Police Department was notified.

Officers from the Police Department responded and initiated an investigation. The officers verified the device was not a fire alarm and suspected it could contain a video recording device. The Sanibel Police Department obtained a search warrant to check the contents of the device and discovered it contained a video camera. Images of the device installed by the suspect are shown in police photos below.  

After further investigation, the Sanibel Police Department was able to identify a suspect who may have installed the unauthorized video recording device. The police notified other law enforcement departments in Southwest Florida so restrooms and changing areas in other jurisdictions could be checked for similar devices.

On August 9th, the Sanibel Police Department secured an arrest warrant for the suspect and coordinated with other jurisdictions in Florida to locate him. On Friday, August 19, 2022, law enforcement officers in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport arrested the 58-year-old white male, Dana Alan Caruso for the warrant. The arrest warrant lists several felony and misdemeanor charges for Caruso. The Sanibel Police Department is working with other members of the law enforcement community to facilitate extradition and prosecution in this case.

The information concerning this crime was not released earlier to prevent the police investigation from being compromised. Chief Dalton said, “The suspect was thought to be moving through various communities in Florida, and our Detective was working through the leads quickly with the help of the State Attorney’s Office and the Lee County Sheriff. We had to stay focused on the investigation until he was apprehended.”

Sanibel Police have learned that several beach patrons were recorded while using the family restrooms at Bowman’s Beach Park on July 28^th, 2022. The Sanibel Police Chief is asking residents and patrons who may have used the family restrooms on this date to contact his staff. “The person who installed this video camera to capture unsuspecting patrons using the family restroom will be brought to justice,” said Chief Dalton. “I ask that anyone who used the family restroom facilities at Bowman’s Beach Park on July 28^th to contact Detective John Eicher by calling 239-472-3111. We would like to identify victims of this crime so additional charges against the suspect can considered.”

*******

The Sanibel Police Department always asks residents and visitors if they “see something, say something.” In this case, the City’s Public Works employees saw something that was suspicious and reported their concern to the police. Without the City employees’ conscientious observations while servicing the restroom, the illegally installed video surveillance camera could have gone undetected.

The Sanibel Police Department greatly appreciates the assistance it has received to date from:

-         Carmine Marceno – Lee County Sheriff – Real Time Intelligence Center

-         Amira D. Fox – State Attorney for the 20^th Judicial Circuit

-         Florida Department of Law Enforcement

-         Chicago Police Department

-         U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force

The Sanibel Police Department will not have any additional comment as this is an active investigation.

###