News Releases

Detectives Charge Chevy Chase Man with Visual Surveillance

For Immediate Release: Friday, October 27, 2017

Detectives from the 2nd District Investigative Section have arrested Jonathan Oldale, age 54, of Greystone Court in Chevy Chase, for conducting visual surveillance of an individual in a private place without his/her consent with prurient intent.

On May 5, Montgomery County Police officers responded to the Silver Star Gymnastics and Fitness Club located at 2701 Pitman Drive in Silver Spring for a suspicious situation.  The complainant, a club employee, stated that approximately three weeks prior, he located a backpack on the floor of the business’ unisex bathroom.  At the time, the employee picked up the backpack and noticed that it contained various cords and wires.  He exited the bathroom and was approached by a parent whose children are enrolled in gymnastics classes at the studio.  The parent, identified as Oldale, stated that the bag belonged to him and took the bag.

The employee further stated that on the day he called police, May 5, he had located the same backpack underneath a “Wet Floor” sign on the floor of the bathroom.  Upon inspecting the backpack, the employee noted that a camera had been placed inside what appeared to be an automobile key fob and then put in the backpack.  The employee noted that the camera was hot to the touch and a light on the camera was illuminated, indicating that the device was in the “on” position.  The employee removed the camera from the backpack and waited to see if anyone would retrieve the bag.  The employee observed Oldale remove the bag from the restroom.  Oldale then approached the club’s front desk two times to ask the receptionist if anyone had turned in a key fob.

Detectives obtained search warrants for Oldale’s home and vehicle. Investigators located an instruction manual for a key fob camera in Oldale’s vehicle.  A digital forensic exam was completed on a computer located in his home which revealed two videos of unidentified females who appear to be school-age being surreptitiously recorded while they were urinating in a bathroom.  Those recordings do not appear to be original videos; they appear to have been downloaded from the internet.  At this time, detectives have not located any videos that include victims from the gymnastics studio.

On October 11, detectives obtained a warrant for Oldale’s arrest, charging him with conducting visual surveillance of another person in a private place without consent.  Oldale turned himself into detectives on October 18 and was transported to the Central Processing Unit.  He was released on bond.

Parents with concerns because their child has previously been in contact with Oldale may email investigators at: [email protected]. Parents are asked to describe, in as specific terms as possible, what their child's interactions have been with Oldale. A parent may also email a photograph of the child to assist investigators, but a photograph is not required.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call detectives at 240-773-6710. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

RLI

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Release ID: 17-346
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases