Affidavit: Taping claims unfounded

WINCHESTER -- Authorities say allegations of a tanning salon illegally taping its customers are unfounded and won't pursue charges.

Investigators executed a search warrant on Thursday at TanTastic, 1855 Senseny Road, to look for any evidence such as video cameras to indicate any illegal activity.

Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney Glenn Williamson on Monday said the search yielded "zero evidence" to indicate any wrongdoing and that he would not pursue charges against the business. Nothing was seized during the search.

An affidavit for the search warrant filed on Friday in Frederick County Circuit Court stated a female customer of the business told investigator Eric Heflin, of the commonwealth's attorney's office, she saw a crack in a wall and a hole in the ceiling tile in her tanning room. The "concerned citizen" told the investigator she "felt uneasy about the hole" because she thought a camera might be inside. The woman also told Heflin a man at a computer shut down the machine each time she came near, the affidavit states.

Investigators examined the ceiling tiles, the crack in the wall and the computer in the business. Williamson said the crack in the wall and hole in the tile appeared to have been left from the salon's previous owner.
- Daily staff report