Tallulah Falls Fire Chief Paul Marstellar remains on suspension following his arrest last week for stalking and unlawful surveillance. Habersham County deputies took the 66-year-old Marstellar into custody on September 21 after he allegedly secretly videotaped employees at a private business.
According to the incident report filed by the sheriff’s office, a man contacted law enforcement stating that two of his employees found a camera in the ceiling at their workplace on September 19. They found the camera after Marstellar allegedly told the female employee she was being videoed and that he had evidence of her “having fun at work.”
The woman told her boss that Marstellar was going to turn the video over to her husband. The boss called Marstellar to the main office in Buford and questioned him about the camera. He told deputies that Marstaller admitted to installing the camera three weeks prior. Afterward, the woman claims Marstellar “became paranoid” and asked to meet with her husband privately. He even went as far as sitting outside her husband’s office for hours waiting to meet him. She told deputies Marstellar “started texting her multiple times and calling upset because her husband refused to meet,” the incident report states.
Marstellar reportedly told the woman he had videos of her being unfaithful.
Deputies also interviewed the woman’s male co-worker who said he was working the shift with her on September 19th when they found the camera Marstellar had hidden.
On September 22, Marstellar called the woman’s husband and asked him to meet with him in a private place. The husband at first agreed then backed out saying “it did not make sense.”
When he phoned Marstellar, he says Marstellar asked if he was in an “open relationship” because he had proof that his wife was “having fun” between calls at her office.
When deputies went to Marstellar’s home to arrest him, he reportedly told them, “I know why you’re here.”
Marstellar was booked at the Habersham County Detention Center and was released three days later on a $3,500 bond.
Although the charges are not related to his position on the all-volunteer fire department, Tallulah Falls suspended him pending the outcome of the investigation, according to town clerk Linda Lapeyrouse. Tallulah Falls Mayor Mike Early is serving as interim fire chief.
Mayor Early refused to comment on the matter saying, “I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”
