Chiropractor from Valencia arrested during investigation with hidden camera

Officers with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department arrested a Valencia chiropractor who was identified as a suspect during an investigation into a hidden camera found in the restroom of the chiropractor’s office.

Nicholas Vanderhyde, 40, of Santa Clarita, was arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code Section 311.11(A): “unlawful possession of obscene material knowing that it depicts or simulates a person under the age of 18 engaged in sexual conduct,” according to a station officer. The station’s jailer indicated the charge could be a misdemeanor or a felony, but the crime was listed.

An invasion of privacy investigation was launched after an employee at The Joint Chiropractic found an electronic device resembling a hidden camera in the building’s only shared bathroom, according to investigation documents.

“The camera was connected to a cable that was connected to a large battery source that was attached to the back of the cabinet,” said the investigator, who noted that the camera was “pointed directly at the toilet in the bathroom.”

After the employee found the camera on May 8, he contacted the sheriff’s office, according to the report.

Based on the footage, the investigator was able to determine that it came from a hidden camera, his report states. It showed “adult men and women as well as juveniles using the toilet and exposing their genitals and other private areas of their bodies.”

Several videos show the suspect placing the camera on the shelf where it was eventually found and pointing it at the toilet area. According to investigators, he also appears to be using his cell phone to make positioning easier.

After viewing the footage, the detective visited the company’s website and immediately recognized the suspect as a doctor listed on the website, according to sheriff’s officials.

The detective stated that, based on his experience, such materials are often traded online. This was part of the detective’s reasoning for his request to search the electronic devices in the suspect’s Saugus home.

Vanderhyde was arrested after his home was searched on Tuesday.

The company referred requests for comment to Margie Wojciechowski, corporate director of public relations, who released the following statement Friday afternoon indicating that The Joint was aware of the arrest:

“Please be assured that upon learning of this incident, we acted immediately, initiated our own internal investigation and fully cooperated with law enforcement. The part-time employee involved has been placed on leave and has no further access to our clinics. We have also reported this incident to the State of California Board of Chiropractic Examiners and will take any further action they deem necessary.”

The office where the camera was found is located at 27023 McBean Parkway in the shopping center across from Red Robin.

According to arrest records available online, Vanderhyde was released on $5,000 bail at 7:44 p.m. the day of his arrest.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did not respond Friday to a request for information about possible charges in the investigation.