Oakland A’s Suspend Strength Coach Michael Henriques Over Hidden Camera Found In Weight Room

The Oakland Athletics say a team employee has been suspended after it was discovered he placed a hidden camera in the O.co Coliseum weight room to spy on players and personnel, according to MLB and union sources.

Oakland A’s Suspend Strength Coach Over Hidden Camera Found In Weight Room

An independent law firm hired by the organization concluded its investigation into the case. Strength and conditioning coach Michael Henriques was sent home while the A’s were on a recent road trip. Henriques said he set up the camera to watch players working out and rehabilitating from injuries. He is in his fifth year with the team.

Major League Baseball, including its Department of Investigations, and the Players Association monitored the investigation, both said Friday. The law firm is expected to present its findings to A’s players on Monday.

Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown first reported the story late on Friday. Henriques reportedly set up the camera on July 24, according to findings in the investigation. The A’s left that night for Texas and a 10-day road trip. A player found the camera inside a box the following afternoon and informed Sean Doolittle, the team’s union representative, who then took the camera to management. Henriques apologized to players for his actions before returning to Oakland.

“This was the misguided action of one employee,” said Billy Beane, the A’s executive vice president of baseball operations. “We hired an independent investigator. While the employee’s intentions were good his judgment was very poor.”

Beane and team president Michael Crowley were among those who used the weight room during the approximately 21 hours the camera was functioning, sources stated. Doolittle did not accompany the team on its road trip while on the disabled list with a strained left shoulder.

Beane, who was reportedly infuriated because of the invasion of privacy, notified MLB that a camera had been discovered. The investigation included several interviews of players and team personnel. According to one source, Henriques would be allowed to continue as the team’s strength and conditioning coach in a probationary capacity, given that his actions were not viewed as being malicious.

“It’s an internal personnel issue,” A’s director of corporate operations Catherine Aker told reporters before Friday’s game between Oakland and the Chicago Cubs. “We take it very seriously.”

MLB and the players’ union officially ruled that cameras– security or otherwise, hidden or in plain view– in areas used by players are not permitted. In recent years, the A’s organization has requested permission to install cameras after it suspected various items were being stolen from its clubhouse. The request was denied, citing privacy concerns. The placement of cameras or similar devices in those areas would have to be collectively bargained.

Henriques joined the A’s in 2010, when he took over as the minor league strength and conditioning coach before joining the major league team on an interim basis in May 2011. Oakland then hired him on a permanent basis five months later.

The A’s (48-63, 5th in AL West) next host the Orioles on Monday night in the first of a four-game series.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 04: Closer Ryan Dull #66 and catcher Stephen Vogt #21 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after Dull got the final out of the 10th inning to pick up the save against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 4, 2016 in Anaheim, California. The As won 8-6 in 10 innings. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena