HOUSTON – A patron of the Mockingbird Bistro in Montrose is making a disturbing claim.
A woman says she found a cell phone recording her in the restroom.
The man accused of making the recording, 36-year-old Gerardo Andrade, is charged with improper photography and is being held in the Harris County Jail. His bond has been set at $35,000.
The owner and executive chef of Mockingbird Bistro, John Sheely, said Andrade wedged a phone inside a restroom infrequently used by guests.
The woman saw it, reported it to management and notified police. Andrade was arrested when it was determined the phone belonged to him.
Sheely released the following statement:
"I am both absolutely shocked and sorely dismayed, to learn that one of our employees at Mockingbird was involved in this incident. We offer our deepest apologies to the guest directly affected.
The managers dealt with the situation as soon as it was brought to their attention. The police were notified and the suspected employee in question was immediately terminated and arrested. That event occurred in a secondary upstairs space, infrequently used by guests.
While the police authorities investigate this for possible charges, we are cooperating in every way. That includes conducting our own internal investigation.
The entire Mockingbird family is deeply saddened and affected by this event. The trust that our diners have placed in us over the years is extremely important and we will continue to strive to maintain that trust in light of what happened."