Top Stories

VA fires employee charged with using scope to look at Pitt dorm

PITTSBURGH — Police say they caught a man peeping into dorm rooms from a parking garage just feet away from University of Pittsburgh building.

"That's kind of scary due to the fact that we live in Southern and right there our dorm room faces the parking lot, actually, so that's a little weird,” said student Lauren Escher.

Last week, police officers from the nearby Department of Veterans Affairs building saw a spotting scope sitting inside of Paul May's SUV.

TRENDING NOW:

"It's just really unnerving the fact that it's so close and from a parking garage,” said student Regan Kelly.

Channel 11 has learned May is a nurse at the Oakland VA Medical Center, which explains why he was parked inside their parking garage.

According to police, officers later saw May pick up the scope and look in the direction of the dorms twice that night.

"There's so many dorms everywhere, like you can see a lot of things,” Escher said. “So I'd rather not be watched doing my homework or getting dressed."

Monday night, investigators were driving in the garage when they say they again caught May in the act. He was arrested and taken into custody.

On Thursday afternoon, the system announced it will terminate May. In a statement, spokesman Curt Cashour said:

"This behavior is not in line with the norms and values of the VA, and as a result the employee has been suspended from all duties. VA has initiated the process for removal from employment right away."

Pitt students had not heard of the arrest until Channel 11 brought it to their attention Tuesday.

The university said it did not put out an alert because May was arrested. Students say they'll be taking new precautions.

"We will keep our blinds closed,” Escher said.

"Definitely make sure the blinds are closed,” Kelly said.

The university tweeted Tuesday afternoon, telling students they are working with VAPD, and they're now letting students who live nearby know about the investigation and working to see if students have been impacted.

May was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. He is charged with loitering and prowling at nighttime, invasion of privacy and possessing instruments of crime.

 

Cox Media Group

Most Read