Accused Window Prowler Released on $300,000 Bond

By Taylor Bennett. Oct 13, 2026

Bond Release Follows New Privacy Charges

He posted bond after allegations of spying through residents’ windows, despite prosecutors’ public-safety concerns. John Searle, 55, was released October 8 on a $300,000 bond in a Minneapolis privacy case, FOX 9 reported.

The new complaints concern alleged incidents near the University of Minnesota, including claims that a man used a tablet to record women through residential windows. Searle is charged with interfering with privacy; the accusations remain unproved.

Residents described feeling unsafe at home after repeated encounters. One complaint cited by FOX 9 said people living in the affected house were fearful of returning and finding a prowler in their yard.

Complaints Describe Repeated Window Incidents

Investigators described separate incidents in 2025 and 2026. In one account, a resident reported a man outside bedroom and bathroom windows; another involved a person returning to the same neighborhood.

During the most recent response, witnesses said a man appeared to use a tablet near a bathroom window. Police later found Searle on a rental scooter nearby, according to reporting on the complaint.

Officers reported finding videos on the tablet that they considered relevant to the investigation. The complaints concern recordings allegedly made inside residents’ homes without their knowledge.

Prosecutors Raised Concerns About Release

FOX 9’s October 10 report said prosecutors pointed to Searle’s prior record when arguing he posed a public-safety risk. The station reported that he nevertheless posted bond and left jail Thursday night.

Posting a $300,000 bond does not establish that he personally paid that amount in cash. His release does not resolve the pending accusations concerning residents’ privacy.

References: ‘Extreme risk’ serial peeping tom posts $300K bond, out of jail again | Serial Peeping Tom charged again for multiple incidents in Minneapolis