CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — An employee at a Chillicothe body shop discovered a hidden camera in her office earlier this month, prompting a police investigation that has since been closed due to insufficient evidence of criminal activity, authorities said.
The employee, who works in the parts area of the body shop, reported finding the camera on March 17, according to a police report filed by Officer Donald Arbogast. She told police she noticed items in her office had been disturbed and discovered the device concealed behind a cone after knocking it over. She said the camera was not present when she left work the previous Friday.
The employee suspects the shop manager, known to her only by his first name, placed the camera. She told police that prior to his promotion, he worked as an adjuster and the two had a history of workplace conflicts. The employee said she drove by the shop on Sunday, March 16, and saw the manager’s vehicle parked there with a garage door open. Shortly after her discovery on Monday, she reported that someone removed the camera from the premises.
The employee contacted the company’s human resources department and spoke with a representative, who said they were unaware of the camera but assured her the matter would be investigated internally. The representative advised her to file a police report, which she did, providing officers with photos and videos of the camera and its location via Evidence.com. She also agreed to submit a written statement and promised to provide the manager’s full name upon its return. The employee told police she believes the manager resides in the Chillicothe area.
After reviewing the submitted evidence, Officer Arbogast determined the camera was placed in an area with no expectation of privacy and was not positioned to record the employee’s private spaces. As a result, no criminal acts were identified, and the investigation was closed. Arbogast noted that if the camera’s placement violated the body shop’s policies, it would be a civil matter for the company or the employee to address internally or through legal action.
The body shop did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case remains a civil issue pending further action from the employee or the company.