By:Andrew Coen and Jeff Lipton
The suspects, identified as Jamie Jones, 18, of Zavatt Street in Inwood and Manuel Ulloa, 19, of Harris Avenue in Hewlett, were caught on Thursday, Jan. 27, at about 1:10 p.m., when an assistant dean spotted them as students were taking midterm exams.
Jones was observed in the girls' bathroom with the video camera while Ulloa waited outside in the hallway, according to Detective Sgt. John King of the Fourth Squad. Police said they are seeking a third suspect, who has not yet been named.
"They weren't supposed to be in the school," said King. "They were in there to videotape whatever females they could videotape."
The dean recognized the suspects as former students, booted them from the property and called police. Following an investigation, Jones was arrested at Mott Avenue and Lawrence Avenue in Inwood on Friday, Jan. 28, King said. Ulloa was arrested at Harris Avenue and Kew Avenue in Hewlett on Thursday, Feb. 3, King said.
Both suspects were charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree unlawful surveillance, police said. Jones was arraigned on the charges in First District Court in Hempstead on Jan. 29, and Ulloa on Feb. 4. Jones was being held on $10,500 bail, and Ulloa was released after being arraigned on the felony charges.
Investigators said that it is not known how long the former students were trying to videotape the bathroom. Jones reportedly told police that the pair planned to stage an event called "Freak Fest" and show the tape to their friends. "It sounds to me like they were going to replay the tape at a party for their buddies," King said.
Police said that the camcorder, with a tape inside, had been confiscated, but they had yet to examine the tape to see if anything was on it. "I don't know what is on the tape," said King, who added that "this is a little different" as far as crimes go.
Police said that the suspects had been banned earlier by high school officials who had caught them sneaking onto the property. "Jones had been told he was not welcome there four to five times prior to that, and Ulloa on one or two occasions before [the Jan. 27 incident]," King said.
It is still unclear exactly how the former students sneaked into the school, at 2 Reilly Rd., with the video camera on Jan. 27. Lawrence High School Principal Geoffrey Touretz said he believes they entered the building through the main entrance, and were not immediately noticed by security, since they are roughly the same ages as students. Touretz estimated that about 25 seconds after the suspects walked into the building, it was determined that they had no business being there, and the assistant dean caught them in and outside the bathroom, which was not occupied by anyone else. Touretz believes that when Jones became aware that school officials were on to the pair, he tried to hide in the bathroom.
"They were quickly apprehended and brought out [of the school]," said Touretz.
Students said they were stunned after learning about what the former students were accused of doing. "It's nasty," said Jessica Ciavolino, a freshman. "It's ridiculous that we can't have privacy."
Sharay Jacobs, another freshman, said, "It makes you scared to go into the bathroom."
Nikki Greene Douglas, co-president of the Lawrence Central Council PTA, whose daughter attends the school, said, "The lack of security concerns me. It's a shame that with the budget constraints, they can't put more security in the high school."
Touretz said that he feels security is sufficient, but that school officials might re-examine procedures when midterms are being taken. "We've gotten a very good response from our hall monitors and security guards," Touretz said. "Other security provisions will be looked at for the [exams]."
Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons said that even before the Jan. 27 incident, the district had been exploring ways to revamp security at the high school. Beginning next year, all students and faculty will be required to carry ID cards, and will be asked to show them before entering the building, he said.
Fitzsimons stressed that whether the proposed 2005-06 budget gets passed will be a major determining factor in whether the new security measures are implemented.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
