WATERFLOW — A Shiprock man has been charged with voyeurism after San Juan County deputies alleged he hid a cellphone inside an employee restroom at a Dollar General store in Waterflow in an attempt to secretly record workers, according to court records.

Saverio Yazzie, 26, is accused of one misdemeanor count of voyeurism in connection with the March 4 incident, according to a criminal complaint.

All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputies wrote in an affidavit for arrest warrant that they were dispatched at about 5:45 p.m. March 4 to the Dollar General at 3228 U.S. 64 in Waterflow after an employee reported discovering a cellphone hidden inside a container in the employee restroom.

Court records state the restroom was restricted to employees and required a key for access. Investigators alleged the employee observed the cellphone positioned in a way that appeared intended to record restroom activity before notifying store management.

According to the affidavit, the employee later contacted a manager, who advised her to retrieve the phone from the restroom for evidence. Deputies allege the phone was no longer there when she returned.

The complaint alleges the manager later told deputies that after the employee discovered the phone, Yazzie allegedly sent a message stating he had quit his job.

Investigators later reviewed store surveillance footage, according to court records. Deputies alleged the footage showed Yazzie entering the restroom area shortly after the employee reported the phone to management.

According to deputies, Yazzie allegedly admitted placing the phone in the restroom in an attempt to secretly record employees.

Court records state deputies later met Yazzie in Shiprock at “the 7211,” where he voluntarily surrendered the phone and provided the password to the device. Investigators said they were unable to recover media after the phone was allegedly reset to factory settings.

CHARGES FILED

• Voyeurism (misdemeanor)

CASE STATUS

Court records show a criminal complaint and affidavit for arrest warrant were filed March 11 in San Juan County Magistrate Court.

SOURCE

According to a criminal complaint and affidavit for arrest warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.