Restaurant manager arrested for secretly recording a patron in the restroom

On Monday, December 23, 2024, officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) were dispatched to Ohana Hawaiian BBQ located at 2150 Santa Rosa Avenue to investigate a report of a recording device (cell phone) located in an air vent on the ceiling of the women's restroom. The female patron, who had made a habit of checking vents in public restrooms after seeing several videos on social media about hidden recording devices, examined the air vent upon entering the single-user restroom. She saw what appeared to be a cellular phone in the vent, with the camera lens facing the interior of the bathroom. 

The patron contacted SRPD and notified the manager of the restaurant then guarded the bathroom, not allowing anyone to enter until law enforcement arrived. Upon arriving at the restaurant, officers removed the vent cover and recovered the phone. They noted the cell phone was recording video and had been recording for approximately 46 minutes. Officers were ultimately able to determine the phone belonged to the restaurant manager, Daniel Nam, a 37-year-old resident of Santa Rosa.  

Detectives from the SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team (DVSA) responded and assumed the investigation. Based on their preliminary investigation, they determined Nam used a concealed recording device to invade the privacy of at least one victim, in violation of 647(j)(3)(a) PC.  

Detectives seized Nam’s cellular phone and laptop computer and will be reviewing the contents of each device to determine how long Nam had been secretly recording people and also to identify any additional victims. Additional charges may be filed against Nam as additional evidence is discovered and victims are identified.  

Nam was booked into Sonoma County Jail for one count of 647(j)(3)(a) PC. The officer booking Nam into jail requested a bail enhancement of $200,000, which was approved by a Superior Court Judge.  

At this time, DVSA detectives do not have an exact timeline for how long Nam had been recording patrons in the restaurant but believe it could have been occurring for several months. DVSA detectives continue to investigate Nam’s actions and are asking members of the public who believe they may have been victimized by Nam or those with information related to this incident to call the SRPD DVSA tipline at 707-543-3595. 

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.