A man exposed himself to a female student in Davidson Library yesterday afternoon and was arrested soon after.
According to the victim, a first-year global studies major, the suspect made eye contact with her and proceeded to raise his basketball shorts to reveal his genitalia. Local law enforcement said the perpetrator was not affiliated with the university.
The female UCSB student, who was studying on the fourth floor, said she walked away immediately after the delinquent “let it all out.”
“I was at first shocked,” she said. “I didn’t really think it was what I was seeing. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know if I should have. I didn’t want to give a reaction.”
UCSB Police Dept. Sergeant Matt Bowman confirmed that the investigation resulted in the arrest of a male suspect.
Additionally, Davidson Library student worker Karima Phillips, a third-year biology major, said the victim approached the library information desk after being flashed to inform authorities of the offense.
“I was a little shocked, but again, this does happen,” Phillips said. “I called [the] Safety [Office], but they have recently cut their hours. They’re usually not here during daytime. I went to the Circulation Desk and we called the police. I was going to have a male student go find him, but we decided to leave it to the police.”
The suspect fled the scene before UC police officers arrived, but he was eventually discovered and detained on the second floor of the library. Officials loaded the criminal’s belongings into his backpack before escorting him outside.
Phillips said the female student described the offender as a white male between 25 and 30 years of age, about 6 feet tall and wearing basketball shorts and a baseball cap.
Despite the startling nature of the crime, Phillips said similar incidents have occurred at the library before, including an unsolicited incident of genital groping last school year.
“It’s rare, but there [are] stories of people masturbating, exposing themselves,” she said. “I have heard one of someone peeing on someone else.”
There’s an old man who frequents the 9th floor. He’s so out of it I’ve seen him crap all over himself. He’s always carrying a pile of books.
There is no 9th floor
See, I told you he was out of it.
Not at the table, Carlos