Bergen Man Films Bathroom Users With Cam Disguised As Smoke Alarm: PD

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A local man stands accused of using a video camera disguised as a smoke detector to unlawfully film people in his bathroom or at his place of work, according to authorities.

David Mulhauser, of North Arlington, is alleged to have used the device to film 21 people at the two New York locations from June 2022 through February 2023, and surrendered to detectives last Wednesday on related charges, police officials said.

The 41-year-old was also seen allegedly downloading "explicit content involving children," prompting a police search of his former Ulster County home that revealed evidence of previously downloaded child porn. He was caught by Homeland Security in August 2022, and a search was initiated in February, said Lt. Joseph Sciutto of the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.

Also found during that search was an unlawfully possessed 9mm semi-automatic handgun with no serial number, or "ghost gun," Sciutto said.

Mulhauser was charged Wednesday with 17 felony counts of unlawful surveillance, and the felonies of possessing a sexual performance by a child and criminal possession of a firearm. All of the victims who were filmed were identified and notified, the lieutenant said.

Mulhauser was released with appearance tickets returnable to justice courts in Gardiner (where he filmed in the bathroom) and Shawangunk (where his place of work was), the sheriff's office said.