Drone used to spy inside WA women’s dorm found by campus security. Pilot arrested
A year-long investigation ended this week in the arrest of a 60-year-old College Place man for allegedly using a drone to capture images through windows of a women’s college dorm and neighboring homes.
Ira Ross Wright was booked into the Walla Walla Corrections Facility on two counts of first-degree voyeurism, said a College Place Police Department Facebook post.
“This behavior is exceptionally disturbing,” said Police Chief Troy Tomaras. “Individuals have an expectation of privacy within their homes.”
A drone had been spotted flying around the women’s dorm at Walla Walla University dating back to early 2024. Police opened an investigation shortly after receiving the reports.
But it wasn’t until recently that campus security recovered a downed drone in the area and provided police investigators with the data needed to identify Wright, said officials.
Images from the drone showed individuals engaged in “private activities,” according to College Place police. Identifiable victims were contacted by officers, and further review of the data led officers to a nearby home.
Police searched Wright’s Tremont Drive house about 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 8.
“Several data storage devices were recovered from the suspect’s home during the service of the search warrant. Investigators will review for the potential of additional victims and/or charges,” they posted.
Public records show Wright worked as a service worker at nearby John Sager Middle School as recently as the 2023-24 school year.
Online court records do not show any previous arrests or charges.
Wright was released Wednesday following an initial court appearance and is scheduled to enter a plea to the Class C felonies on July 21, according to media reports.
This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM.
