Surf teacher probe alleges more than a dozen victims

The investigation into the owner of a Santa Cruz surf school accused of secretly recording video of young girls changing in his school’s dressing rooms is expanding, with police saying they have found a third location where photos were secretly taken.

Santa Cruz police Deputy Chief Steve Clark says detectives investigating surf school owner Dylan Greiner now believe that Greiner also took “inappropriate” photos of girls at a swim school that was renting the pool at Santa Cruz High School.

Greiner was serving as a volunteer for the school — called the Seahorse Swim School.  He was brought in as a guest for junior lifeguard programs run by the swim school.

Clark said in a statement Wednesday:

“In all of the locations, detectives have identified over a dozen victims in this case. Additionally, we have received over 100 inquiries from concerned parents. Detectives are identifying victims and locations as quickly as possible.”

Clark says the owners of the school are cooperating with the investigation, and that Santa Cruz school system, other than renting the pool, was not affiliated with the swim school.

The latest revelation comes after police searched Greiner’s surf school and his home earlier this month and said they found videos of girls changing in the surf school’s dressing room.

Police later said they found more photos taken of young girls while Greiner was instructing at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz.

The 38-year-old Greiner has been charged with 28 felony counts, including lewd acts with a 14-year-old girl, sexual exploitation of a child and possessing child pornography.

During his initial court appearance last week Greiner did not enter a plea, but was ordered to return to court on Sept 10.  He is being held on $1 million bail.

The surfing school Greiner operated provided its lessons at Cowell Beach, a popular surfing spot for beginning surfers.

The school’s website has been suspended. But before it was taken down it boasted it was:

“… the only surf school in Santa Cruz with a shop featuring a private bathroom, secure storage for your belongings, changing areas, outdoor shower and private parking.”

When detectives were questioning Greiner after his arrest on August 16 they said he admitted to the having relationships with young girls and to downloading inappropriate images of young girls, and that he wrote a letter of apology to girls and to the community.