Columbia man accused of hiding cameras in Planet Fitness tanning beds

One man is wanted for arrest and accused of hiding cameras in tanning beds at a Planet Fitness.

The Columbia Police Department (CPD) received reports of an invasion of privacy after a victim allegedly found secret videos of people undressing on the suspect’s phone.

Court documents state that the victim discovered two videos on Oct. 13 of unsuspecting victims undressing in a private room on Kenneth Gerard Steele’s phone.

The footage allegedly showed him hiding the camera within a paper towel holder in a tanning booth at a Planet Fitness location in Columbia.

According to a probable cause statement, police discovered velcro on all five tanning booth paper towel holders where a camera had been placed.

CPD noted that the victim confronted Steele and he allegedly admitted to secretly recording multiple people in the tanning booths.

He is charged with felony Invasion of Privacy and Third-Degree Domestic Assault.

Police requested an arrest warrant for Steele with a $25,000 bond.