A disturbing incident occurred at Great Lakes Mall when a father alleged that his 11-year-old son was being recorded in the men's restroom, Cleveland19 News reports. The Mentor Police Department responded to the scene in the mall's food court last Friday, December 30, after receiving a 911 call from the concerned parent. Officers entered the premises and confronted the suspect, identified as Joshua Yanowitz, a 33-year-old resident of Beachwood. The incident was said to have taken place the previous Tuesday, and the subsequent encounter leading to Yanowitz's arrest unfolded on video via bodycam footage obtained by officers.
According to FOX8 News, Yanowitz was taken into custody after a brief interview where he was charged with felony voyeurism, following the father's observation that Yanowitz might have been filming his son using the urinal. Mentor Police underscored the importance of supervising young children in public restrooms. An event such as this highlights the potential dangers that can occur even in perceived safe spaces, such as a mall bathroom. Yanowitz's bond conditions and court dates have not been publicly disclosed at this time
The News-Herald further detailed that the Mentor Police Officers responded to the distress call at the mall located at 7850 Mentor Ave., where they found and interviewed Yanowitz, leading to the voyeurism charges. The police actions were also detailed in a city news release, which noted the quick response and identification of Yanowitz in the incident.
