A digital recreation of a hidden camera mounted to a sink drainpipe.
A 41-year-old man has been charged with voyeurism in the first degree after allegations surfaced that he secretly filmed patrons at a Starbucks in Kirkland. The charge follows an incident on Oct. 3, 2025, when a hidden camera was discovered in the restroom.
Ben Tsai pleaded not guilty during his court appearance on Jan. 14 and was initially held on $50,000 bail, which he has since posted.
The investigation began when a Starbucks manager found the recording device sticking out from the cover of the drainpipe under the sink. The camera was positioned in a way that it would record/view the toilet area. She promptly reported it to the police.
A Kirkland police detective noted that the camera could not only record video but also had remote viewing capabilities.
“By the defendant’s own admission, he has been engaging in this surreptitious, voyeuristic recording of his victim’s private, intimate actions since 2017,” the charging documents said.
The probable cause documents said Tsai used hidden cameras in public bathrooms and at his workplace, specifically targeting marginalized groups.