Student put cameras in bathrooms at middle school, high school in Highland Park, Illinois, officials say
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- A juvenile student placed cameras and took recordings in restrooms at a middle school and high school in north suburban Highland Park, city and school officials said Tuesday.
A juvenile student was behind placing the recording devices or mobile phones at both schools, officials said.
Highland Park police said the youngster was in custody late Tuesday. Meanwhile, investigators were working to determine just how far back the illegal bathroom recordings go.
Videos were taken of both adults and children in bathrooms at Edgewood Middle School and Highland Park High School, local officials said. The City of Highland Park, North Shore School District 112, and Township High School District 113 are working together to respond to the acts, according to a joint news release.
Highland Park police were called immediately after a staff member discovered a suspicious electronic device in a washroom at Highland Park High School, the city and school districts said.
Investigators were called because it appeared the device had the ability to record. It was not clear if the device was recording when it was found, but the fact that it was inside a school bathroom was enough for administrators and police to dig deeper.
When they did so, police learned that a recording device was used at Edgewood Middle School too.
The two campuses are about 3 miles apart with no overlapping programs. Yet somehow, the person responsible was able to gain access to both schools.
The city and school districts said Tuesday they were confident that all photo and video recording has been stopped, and they want the community to be aware of the crime. Administrators representing both school districts are working with Highland Park police to notify students and staff who may have been affected.
Because a juvenile suspect is involved, there are limits as to what can be shared, the city and school districts said.
Investigators late Tuesday were not saying whether the recordings happened in the boys' or girls' restrooms. But it is known that both students and adults were here.
It also remained unknown where the images ended up, or whether the device was acted remotely. But police were able to link the device back to a minor.
The school districts said they were taking steps to provide counseling and mental health resources and enhance safety at the schools.
School staff has completed searches of all bathrooms in schools belonging to districts 112 and 113 to ensure there are no other recording devices.
In addition to Edgewood, District 112 includes Braeside, Indian Trail, Ravinia, Sherwood, Red Oak, and Wayne Thomas elementary schools and Northwood Middle School in Highland Park, and Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood. Township High School District 113 includes Deerfield High School in addition to Highland Park High School.
But again, the restroom cameras were only found in Edgewood Middle School and Highland Park High School.
Title IX investigators have also been launched. Title IX is the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in any school or other educational institution receiving federal funding. A Title IX investigation determines whether an incident of sex-based harassment, misconduct, or discrimination violates the Title IX Education Amendments of 1972.
Supports will also be made available to students and staff at Edgewood Middle School and Highland Park High School.
