An Oklahoma City newsroom is reeling after a trusted insider was hauled away in handcuffs over what police say is a disturbing hidden camera scheme targeting coworkers behind the scenes.
According to Oklahoma City police, 40-year-old Darrell Vannostran — a supervisor overseeing photography and videography staff at KWTV News9 — was arrested after investigators uncovered alleged secret recording devices planted inside dressing rooms used by on-air talent and guests.
The shocking discovery reportedly began when janitorial staff stumbled upon something suspicious while cleaning the station. Hidden beneath clothing racks in two separate dressing rooms, they found cameras carefully mounted using adhesive Velcro — positioned in a way investigators say clearly suggested an intent to secretly film people in private moments.
Police say Griffin Media, which owns the station, immediately contacted authorities and turned over the devices, along with battery packs used to power them.
What investigators allegedly found next raised even more alarm.
According to an arrest affidavit, authorities were able to recover footage from the devices and say multiple victims were recorded in various states of undress. Officials have not revealed how many people may have been affected.
As detectives dug deeper, they claim Vannostran’s access to the building lined up with every instance the cameras were repositioned. Even more damning, police allege that cached images from the dressing room footage were discovered on his personal electronic devices.
The charge he now faces — using photographic equipment in a clandestine manner in a private place — is a felony.
The arrest has stunned those familiar with Vannostran’s professional reputation. Just last year, he was recognized with multiple Heartland Emmy Awards for his work as a photographer and editor, making the allegations all the more jarring.
Griffin Media confirmed the arrest in a statement, emphasizing that employee safety and privacy remain top priorities and that they acted immediately once the cameras were discovered. The company has not said whether Vannostran is still employed.
A motive behind the alleged recordings has not been disclosed.
After being booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, Vannostran was held on a $25,000 bond, which he has since posted, according to jail records.
As the investigation continues, one question looms over the shaken newsroom: how long was this happening — and who else may have been unknowingly watched?
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