Restaurant Employee Faces Felony Charges After Hidden Camera Found in Family Bathroom

Disturbing Discovery Leads to Arrest

A routine evening shift at a popular Houston-area Lupe Tortilla restaurant took a shocking turn when a separate employee at Lupe Tortilla's Katy Freeway location made the unsettling discovery Tuesday evening . Hidden beneath the sink in the family bathroom was a motion-activated camera, strategically placed to record unsuspecting customers in one of the most private spaces imaginable.

Bayson Elias Pu, 31, now faces a felony charge for invasive visual recording after the disturbing discovery at the restaurant where he worked as a dishwasher. Wood said the preliminary investigation shows the camera was allegedly installed on Tuesday, just after 6:30 p.m., and the female employee discovered it under the family bathroom sink around 7:10 p.m. that same evening .

The case took an even more troubling turn when investigators recovered the device. Two video files recovered from the device allegedly show a female child and an adult woman using the restroom, including footage of their buttocks . On Dec. 30, two videos showed a girl, believed to be 7 or 8, and an adult woman, identified as her mother, using the bathroom, according to court documents .

Quick Response and Investigation

The restaurant's response was swift and decisive. According to Hedwig Village Police Chief Justin Wood, the employee told their general manager, who then called the police . Police Chief Wood praised the cooperation, stating "I can't say enough about their cooperation. Uh, it, it really means a lot" .

Investigators caught a break when they examined the recording device itself. Investigators say the device also captured video of the suspect installing the camera, which helped lead to his arrest. "Fortunately for us, his face was captured on the actual camera as he was installing it. So that was obviously a, a helpful clue," Wood said .

Pu was detained on Wednesday night after arriving for his shift at the restaurant . The arrest revealed additional complications when Wood said Pu also allegedly used false resident documents. Police say Pu has an ICE hold related to the alleged use of fraudulent identification .

Legal Consequences and Additional Charges

He was given a $100,000 bond on a felony charge for invasive visual recording , though Court records also show Pu has an immigration hold, meaning he is not expected to be released even if bond conditions change . The legal troubles have since expanded beyond the initial camera charge.

Bayson Elias Pu, 31, is now expected to be formally charged with fraudulent use of identifying information after investigators determined he used a Social Security number belonging to a retired man in Nevada . Officials also told KPRC 2 that the Assistant District Attorney is considering upgrading the criminal charge from fraudulent use of identifying information to tampering with a government document .

Restaurant Response and Community Impact

Lupe Tortilla issued a comprehensive statement addressing the incident. "Lupe Tortilla places the highest priority on the safety, privacy, and well-being of its guests and team members. We are cooperating fully with the Hedwig Police Department as they investigate the matter. We appreciate their prompt response and professionalism" .

The case highlights the vulnerability customers face in spaces where they expect complete privacy. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and detectives are continuing to work with prosecutors as the case moves forward . This incident serves as a stark reminder that vigilance from both employees and management remains crucial in protecting customer privacy and safety in public establishments.