Investigation reveals dozens of alleged restroom recordings across Irving shopping centers
IRVING, Texas — Court records released this week outline an Irving Police Department probe that led to the arrest of 19-year-old Makarious Jevonne Bates and the recovery of nearly 300 images and videos detectives say were taken covertly in public restrooms.
Police say the inquiry began June 3 after employees at the TJ Maxx in the 7700 block of North MacArthur Boulevard reported that a man had been filming a woman and a female child inside the store's restroom. Investigators linked that incident to alleged similar behavior on April 12 and June 1, based on information from the store's loss prevention staff.
Law enforcement used surveillance footage and vehicle records to identify a Dodge Challenger associated with the incidents. The car was registered to Bates; comparing store security video with body-worn camera footage from a prior traffic stop helped confirm his identity, according to court documents.
- June 3: Report of secret filming at TJ Maxx restroom.
- June 15: License plate readers flagged the registered vehicle; Bates was stopped near a Target and arrested on an unrelated offense.
- June 22: A search warrant and digital extraction of Bates' phone uncovered more than 290 files investigators describe as illicit images and videos.
Police say Bates voluntarily provided his phone passcode during the June 15 encounter, and detectives executed a full digital extraction after obtaining a search warrant a week later. He now faces multiple counts of invasive visual recording, a state-jail felony under Texas law.
Investigators described victims in the reported incidents as women and at least one female child.
The discovery of hundreds of files on a single device raises broader questions about the scope of the alleged conduct and the potential number of victims. Irving Police will be tasked with notifying and identifying any additional victims and coordinating with prosecutors on charging decisions.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 12 | Loss prevention reported similar incident at TJ Maxx |
| June 1 | Another alleged incident at the store, per loss prevention |
| June 3 | Report of filming at TJ Maxx prompted investigation |
| June 15 | Vehicle flagged; Bates stopped near Target; phone passcode given |
| June 22 | Search warrant executed; digital extraction found >290 files |
State-jail felony charges for invasive visual recording can carry significant penalties if prosecutors secure convictions, and the case underscores heightened public concern about privacy and safety in retail environments. Officials have not released additional details about court proceedings, bail or scheduled hearings.
Irving residents and visitors who use restrooms in public retail locations may expect increased attention from store loss-prevention teams and local law enforcement while detectives pursue any remaining leads and potential victims are identified.
