PANAMA CITY BEACH — A man’s wife turned him in after she found a tape of women in various states of undress in the restroom at Pineapple Willy’s on Panama City Beach, investigators said Thursday.
Michael Edward Dunning, 29, of North Longwood Circle, Panama City, was taping the unsuspecting women in the handicapped stall of the bathroom, Bay County Sheriff’s officials reported. Dunning’s wife found the tape while cleaning the couple’s home. When she recognized the video was taken at Pineapple Willy’s, she handed the evidence over to authorities, officials added.
Dunning worked at Pineapple Willy’s, officials said.
“We at Pineapple Willy’s were shocked to learn of these acts from law enforcement,” Pineapple Willy’s owner Bill Buskell said in a written statement. “We had no reason to believe anything like this was occurring at our establishment. We have been cooperating completely with investigators to assure that this never happens again in the future. These actions, in no part, are a reflection of Pineapple Willy’s, and are just as upsetting to us as they are to everyone else.”
Investigators executed a search of Dunning’s home Thursday morning and seized his computer. A “forensic examination” will be done on the device, authorities said.
“The owner of the restaurant has cooperated fully with investigators and there is no indication at this time anyone else working at the restaurant is involved,” BCSO officials said in a news release.
Dunning was taken to the Bay County Jail and booked on two counts of video voyeurism. Since some of the images on the camera appear to be of underage victims, additional charges are possible, officials wrote in a news release.
The investigation continues.