MANTUA TOWNSHIP, NJ – A 56-year-old barbershop employee faces invasion of privacy charges after police discovered he had secretly recorded customers using a bathroom at the business where he worked.
Richard Doerrmann was arrested Friday following an investigation that began when the owner of Gino’s Barbershop on Bridgeton Pike found a hidden camera device in the establishment’s restroom and immediately contacted authorities.
According to a criminal complaint, the recording device was concealed inside a powerbank placed within a basket positioned behind the toilet. Police said the camera was strategically positioned to capture images of unsuspecting customers using the facilities.
During a February 16 police interview, Doerrmann allegedly admitted to placing the device in the bathroom around February 5, according to the complaint. He told investigators the basket belonged to him and that he had positioned the recording equipment underneath toilet paper inside the container.
Police noted that Doerrmann provided inconsistent statements about his use of the device. While he acknowledged testing the camera feature previously, he claimed he was unsure whether it was actively recording while in the bathroom. When pressed for further details about his intentions, Doerrmann invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, according to the complaint.
A subsequent search warrant execution confirmed that Doerrmann possessed recorded videos from the barbershop’s bathroom, authorities said. He was booked into Salem County Jail on Wednesday.
The case has shocked the local community, where Doerrmann had reportedly worked as a barber for approximately 15 years. Jonathan Ladner, who operates a pizza shop across from Gino’s Barbershop, described the allegations as “quite frightening” and expressed concern about the violation of trust in a small business environment.
Investigators are now working to determine the full scope of potential victims who may have been recorded without their knowledge. The barbershop has remained open following the incident, though signs were posted regarding the ongoing investigation.
Doerrmann faces one count of third-degree invasion of privacy and two counts of fourth-degree invasion of privacy. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to examine the evidence and identify any additional victims.
