Mesa police asking for public’s help identifying 2 victims in voyeurism case

PHOENIX — The Mesa Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying two victims in a voyeurism case.

According to authorities, 42-year-old Erik Contos was arrested for allegedly taking photos of individuals, clothed and partially nude, without their consent or knowledge.

There have been four victims identified in connection with the case already, police said. However, there are two victims that investigators are still trying to identify.

Anyone who recognizes the bathrooms in the above photos or has information regarding the case is asked to contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or email Detective Christopher at p17194@mesaaz.gov. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377).

What led to Mesa police arresting Contos for the voyeurism case?

On Feb. 10, officers responded around 10:20 p.m. to a suspicious person call near Mesquite Street and South Mountain Road.

The caller told authorities they saw a man, later identified as Contos, in the fenced backyard of their home and believed he had recorded their juvenile family member getting ready to shower from outside the home, police said.

On Feb. 16, detectives served a search warrant before seizing Contos’ phone. A forensic review of revealed multiple images of three people connected to the caller, according to authorities.

Investigators determined that multiple images were taken through the bathroom window of the home, noting that all of the images appeared to be taken from outside the home without the victims’ knowledge and therefore Contos would have had to enter the fenced backyard to take them.

Based on this evidence, police arrested and booked Contos into jail on eight counts of surreptitious photographing, nine counts of voyeurism and one count of burglary. Afterward, he was released on a $75,000 cash bond.

However as the investigation continued, investigators found more images in Contos possession, including one image of two juvenile females — both of whom have been identified — in a bathroom and two other photos, which include the individuals who police have been unable to identify.

On March 6, Contos was rearrested on additional charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and surreptitious photographing.

Related

Glendale police ask for public's help identifying 2 suspects in debit card fraud caseArizona woman sentenced to over 50 years in prison for child molestation, bestialityDead body of adult man found near trail in South Mountain Park1 in 5 Arizona adults experience gambling-related harm, state report findsHiker rescued on South Mountain trail after suffering heat-related illnessDUI suspect identified after SUV slams into parked Phoenix police vehicle