Louisiana Ochsner doctor accused filming staff hospital bathroom

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An Ochsner resident training to become a doctor who was arrested and accused of recording people inside of a hospital bathroom is now out on bond.

According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, Andrew Matthews, 37, of Jefferson, posted bond Friday after he was booked on 34 counts of video voyeurism.

He was released on a $34,000 bond.

Deputies were called to the hospital in the 1500 block of Jefferson Highway around 11:30 a.m. Aug. 3 after an employee found a camera and reported it to hospital security.

The security staff identified Matthews as the suspect and turned over evidence to the sheriff's office, according to a statement issued by JPSO.

The sheriff's office said there were dozens of videos taken inside what is believed to be a staff-only restroom.

JPSO expects the investigation to last several weeks.

Ochsner's Medical Director issued the following statement regarding the arrest:

'We can confirm that a resident trainee has been arrested for allegedly unlawfully installing a recording device in an employee restroom at our Jefferson Highway campus. The individual has been terminated. An investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is underway.

"The safety of our patients, visitors and employees is our highest priority. Ochsner Health does not and will not tolerate violations of privacy or illegal activity of any kind.

"While we cannot comment further on the details of an active investigation, we can reassure our community that our security team acted swiftly and conducted a thorough sweep of the campus, including all bathrooms, call rooms, and other private staff and patient areas. No other devices were found.

"We are offering all available resources to support our teams. We will continue to work closely with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and our security and safety teams.

"George Loss, Jr. MD, Regional Medical Director, Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans"

Former NOPD Captain Mike Cahn says he saw multiple cases in his career where hidden cameras were used.

“It can be cut down and taken to housing and just have the camera and put it in literally something as small as a pinhole," said Cahn.

Cahn showed us a few tips on how to find these cameras in public places. The first focuses on infrared light.

Cahn says most hidden cameras put it out, but you can’t see it with the naked eye.

One way to detect it is to open up the camera on your cell phone and point your front-facing camera towards it. That camera can detect the light.

Cahn says this trick works to help find many hidden cameras that may be inside wall sockets, vents or other inconspicuous places.

“We’ve seen hidden cameras put anywhere from the average, which is a nanny cam that can be hidden inside of a teddy bear watching kids as well as going all the way up to where people have put them in restrooms. They put them in houses that they’ve rented. They’ve put them in hotel rooms, they put them in anywhere that they can regain access to them," said Cahn.

Larry Lavallais is the owner and founder of Innovative I.T. in New Orleans. He says businesses may want to start doing regular checks for hidden cameras.

“If you have an IT team, if you have an IT guy, this is going to be part of their checklist now. I mean this is going to be random audits of privacy areas. Restrooms, break rooms, places where people can be vulnerable and exposed," said Lavallais.