Emmy-winning photojournalist arrested for hidden cameras in TV station dressing room

Darrell Vannostran, a 40-year-old chief photographer for KWTV News 9, was arrested on Tuesday by Oklahoma City Police Department on felony charges of using photo or video equipment clandestinely in a private place. The investigation began March 24 after janitorial staff at Griffin Media's downtown Oklahoma City building discovered two concealed cameras with battery packs mounted under clothing racks in dressing rooms. Police recovered SD cards containing images, video footage, and activity logs showing recordings of multiple individuals in private settings. Authorities identified Vannostran by matching building entry records with timestamps showing when cameras were accessed. During an April 2 interview at the news station, Vannostran acknowledged awareness of the discovered devices and admitted working with similar equipment as supervisor of the photography department. One SD card contained legitimate work material connected to a battery pack labeled "KWTV." Police seized two iPhones and three USB drives from Vannostran, finding cached images on his phone matching footage from hidden cameras, including views of individuals undressing. He was arrested at his home with bond set at $25,000. Griffin Media vice president of marketing Houston Hunt stated the company immediately contacted police upon discovery and prioritized employee safety and privacy. Vannostran had received multiple Regional Emmy Award nominations and awards during his career.