Two University of Georgia police officers were dispatched to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall at 1:14 p.m. on the afternoon of Feb. 27 after an employee reported finding two wireless cameras in the men’s shower area of the football complex the previous day, according to the arrest report released by UGA police Monday morning.
Officers Andrew Mahaney and Derrick McGregory initially met with Peggy Whitfield, human resources manager for the UGA Athletic Association. At some point, Kevin Purvis, an equipment manager for the football team, was identified as the chief suspect in the case.
A subsequent search of Purvis’ Timothy Road residence resulted in the discovery of a small amount of marijuana and “unprescribed Fentanyl patches.” Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is generally used for as a pain reliever but is sometimes abused because it can cause euphoria or feelings of well being.
Five warrants were issued for Purvis, 37, this past Friday. He turned himself into Athens-Clarke County Jail at 8:48 p.m. Friday and charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor. Three of the felonies are for illegal eavesdropping or surveillance. The other felony was for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and the misdemeanor was for possession of marijuana. Purvis was released on an $8,500 bond at 12:06 p.m. on Saturday.
Despite the cameras being found in the football team’s locker room showers, UGA officials maintain that no student-athletes were victims. At this point, it is not clear who the victim or victims were.
“As soon as it learned of the incident, the Athletic Association notified the University of Georgia Police Department, who began their investigation,” UGA said in a statement. “The University took immediate action, and the employee was terminated early in the investigation. Based on the findings of the police investigation, no student-athletes were victims in this incident.”
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