Student reports sexual battery on UC Berkeley campus

BERKELEY, Calif. -- A 20-year-old University of California at Berkeley student reported being sexually battered on campus Thursday afternoon, university police said.

At about 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, the female student walked into the University of California Police Department in Sproul Hall and reported that a man had inappropriately touched her against her will about an hour earlier in front of the Free Speech Cafe, located on the south side of Moffitt Library.

The victim told university police that she was eating lunch when a man approached her and asked for her food. She decided to give the man some food but then he sat down and asked her for money, police said.

The student felt uncomfortable and told the man she had to leave. But before she left, the man asked her if he could hug her.

Believing that the man was trying to thank her for the food, she allowed it, but while hugging the victim, the suspect touched her inappropriately, police said.

The suspect then walked briskly toward the Valley Life Science Building, according to police.

The victim wasn't physically injured, police said.

She reported the incident about an hour later. At that time, the UC police officers conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect is described as a black man, about 30 years old, with a dark complexion, a medium build, with a goatee-style or a Van Dyke-style beard, wearing a zipped up black coat and blue denim jeans.

Police said he had an ID-type badge around his neck.

The victim told police that she thought the suspect might be homeless due to his appearance and strong body odor.

This report of sexual battery comes about a week after the UC police received reports of multiple sexual assaults involving fraternities.

UC police officers are urging the university community to call 911 immediately following a criminal or suspicious activity, as it will allow the UC police department to intervene quickly and apprehend suspects.

UC police officers are reminding the community that if someone approaches or touches you in an inappropriate manner, try to get away and call out for help, dial 911, call (510) 642-3333 or activate a Blue Light emergency phone.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact UC police at (510) 642-0472 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or (510) 642-6760 during all other times.

Anyone who encounters an emergency or sees something suspicious should call 911 immediately, UC police said.