Kirkland girls basketball coach accused of filming players while they changed

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Kirkland police arrested a high school basketball coach on Thursday, saying he was secretly filming girls on his team changing clothes in his office.

The King County prosecutor’s office said it had filed charges against Brenden Rajah on Friday, but there was no immediate word on what the charges were. His arrest Thursday night was for investigation of first-degree voyeurism, which is a felony.

Rajah is a volunteer coach on the Puget Sound Adventist Academy’s basketball team, and was formerly the school’s athletic director.

According to a news release from Kirkland police:

Two students were using the athletic department’s tablet when they found the videos, which they reported.  The video showed players who had been invited into the coach’s office to try on uniforms.

Police said they easily identified Rajah because he can be seen in the videos adjusting the camera angle and turning the video on and off.

Police served a search warrant at Rajah’s house and are conducting a forensic investigation of his electronics.

Puget Sound Adventist Academy in Kirkland provided the following statement by email:

"Puget Sound Adventist Academy is focused on helping our students move forward in dealing with a betrayal of trust this week.

"School officials are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation of two videos found on a school iPad of athletes trying on uniforms. The coach, Brenden Rajah, who was questioned and arrested by Kirkland Police Department, has no further connection with the school.

"Safety in all forms is important to Puget Sound Adventist Academy. We actively work to nurture, guide, and protect students spiritually, academically, physically, and socially."