Two men have been accused of, but not cited for, indecent exposure within the past two weeks after similar yet unrelated incidents of alleged masturbation at Knight Library.
Both suspects were issued letters of trespass by the Department of Public Safety, but because of a lack of evidence, Eugene Police Department officers were unable to cite the accused for indecent exposure.
In response to the most recent incident, which occurred Monday, Associate University Librarian Andrew Bonamici said more students need to be aware of the crime and their surroundings when studying in the library.
“This is criminal behavior,” he said. “We really appreciate it when other patrons pay attention and support DPS in its role to enforce campus safety.”
On Monday, a male staff member called DPS at 4 p.m. to report a person masturbating on the fourth floor of the Knight Library. By the time DPS and assisting EPD officers arrived at the scene, the suspect had relocated. A witness assisted the officers in finding the suspect. The suspect was then issued a letter of trespass after an extended conversation with DPS on the main floor of the building.
“We take these incidents very seriously,” DPS Associate Director Tom Hicks said.
Despite witness descriptions and accounts, EPD officers could not issue a citation, partly because they did not catch him in the act.
“It’s a little more difficult to gather evidence for these incidents,” Hicks said.
The suspect was then escorted off the premises and instructed to stay off Knight Library property.
On Feb. 4, a female subject called DPS at 2:30 p.m. to report a male suspect masturbating in the library. As was the case with the most recent incident, the suspect relocated from the fourth floor before DPS and EPD officers arrived, and there was little evidence for officers to issue more than a letter of trespass.
Hicks said neither of the two alleged masturbators are University students, and EPD spokeswoman Kerry Delf added that the two
suspect descriptions are completely different.