For 2nd time in 11 days, a man on UW campus exposes self, performs sex act



SEATTLE -- A woman on the University of Washington campus flagged down police and told them that a young man had exposed himself in an elevator and began performing a sex act in front of her -- the second such incident in 11 days with a similar suspect description.

University police said a woman flagged them down at about 1 p.m. Tuesday near NE 41st Street and University Way NE and told them she was in an elevator in Schmitz Hall when the suspect entered.

"As the elevator began to move the male said 'hello' to her. She looked toward him to acknowledge the greeting and saw that he was masturbating," the UW Police Department said in a news release. "She confronted him about the unacceptable behavior, and the elevator door opened and the suspect ran out. The female chased him out onto the street and north on University Way where she lost sight of him and flagged down the UWPD officers."

As the officers were interviewing the woman, a blue sedan drove past and the victim told officers that the suspect was in the car, police said. Neither the car nor the suspect could be located.

The suspect was described as a black man, about 18 years old, 5-foot-8, 140 to 160 pounds, with short black hair. He was wearing a black button-up shirt with a gold chain around his neck and gray pants.

On Friday, June 13, a similar incident was reported.

Police siad that officers were called to the Husky Union Building (HUB), where a female student told police she was seated in a booth, alone in the food court area, "when she suddenly realized that the suspect was standing at her table looking towards her just three feet away. She was shocked to see that the suspect had his pants pulled down, and he was masturbating...

"He looked at the victim and said 'I'm sorry,' pulled up his pants and quickly walked away," the police said in a news release.

In that incident, the victim described the suspect as a black man about 21-24 years old, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9, 140 to 160 pounds, with short black hair. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with an unknown logo, black jeans and black tennis shoes.

If you have any additional information about this crime or you know of the suspect whereabouts, please call the UWPD at (206) 685-UWPD (8973). To report an emergency or suspicious activities, call 911.

UWPD offer these "Crime Prevention Tips for Similar Incidents":

o Call 911 in an emergency

o Remove yourself from potentially dangerous situations as quickly as possible

o Be cognizant of your surroundings at all times

o Avoid confrontations whenever possible

o Report suspicious persons or activity to police immediately

Tips or information on this or any crime may also be forwarded to the University of Washington Police Department at (206) 685-TIPS (8477). At night, call Husky NightWalk: 206-685-WALK (9255) for a security guard escort to various locations on campus, 7 days a week.