URI Police have arrested and charged a suspect in relation to the video voyeurism cases that took place from March 6 and 9.
The suspect, 18-year-old Woonsocket resident Evan Bouphavong, was arrested on March 17, according to Rhode Island court records. Bouphavong faces two charges of video voyeurism, with a bond set at $3,000.
Bouphavong is not a URI student, according to the URI Student Directory.
The investigation is ongoing, according to an email sent by URI Police to the campus community on March 17. Bouphavong was kept anonymous in the email, though “in custody.”
“No further threats to the campus community have been identified at this time,” the email said.
Bouphavong entered the shower areas of the residence halls and attempted to observe, photograph or video male occupants with a cell phone, according to an email sent to the URI community on March 10.
The first incident took place in the Browning Hall all-gender bathroom at approximately 9:15 p.m. on March 6, according to the email. The second took place in the Butterfield Hall men’s bathroom on March 9 at approximately 11:38 p.m.
In both cases, Bouphavong fled the scene before authorities arrived, according to the email.
Students are encouraged to report suspicious persons or devices in bathroom areas, according to the email. Police advise students not to tamper with devices, but to report them to campus police.
The email was sent as a part of the Clery Act, which requires universities to give “timely warnings” to the campus community “if there is a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community,” according to The Clery Center. Video voyeurism is not among the list of offenses required to be reported.
