UC Berkeley Student Reportedly Chased by Man Who Scaled Locked Gate; Police Investigate

<p>Surveillance video shows a UC Berkeley student running through a locked gate as a man allegedly chased her home on September 15. The incident occurred outside her apartment building in Berkeley, California.</p><p>The video captures the woman entering the secured complex around 8 p.m. Shortly after, a man climbs over the locked gate and allegedly follows her inside while holding an object initially reported as a knife.</p><p>However, Berkeley police later determined that the object was likely a barbecue lighter and stated that there was no direct contact between the man and the woman.</p><p>The student, identified only as Eden for safety reasons, told ABC7 that while walking her dog on Berkeley Way, the man made strange gestures, approached her, and then began running toward her.</p><p>She managed to enter the complex and reach an elevator before he could see where she went. "I shut the gate behind me, heard him and saw him climbing the gate," Eden said.</p><p>The Berkeley Police Department received the woman’s call at approximately 8:04 p.m. Officers were handling other high-priority emergencies at the time, including a domestic violence case and a report involving a missing person considered at risk.</p><p>Eden reported that officers arrived about an hour later but were unable to locate the man. The following night, at approximately 9:24 p.m., police received another call reporting that the same man was lying on a sidewalk near Berkeley Way and Walnut Street.</p><p>Officers responded, detained, and identified him. Police confirmed that he was the individual involved in the previous night’s alleged trespassing but did not arrest him.</p><p>The department explained that California law generally prevents officers from making a warrantless arrest for a misdemeanor that did not occur in their presence. Since the alleged trespassing had occurred the day before, officers stated they could not arrest the man based solely on that offense.</p><p>Investigators submitted the case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for review, and prosecutors will determine whether criminal charges should be filed. As of Monday, no charges had been filed, according to ABC7.</p><p>Eden expressed her disbelief that a man could allegedly chase her into a secured building and still walk away after being identified by police. She called for stronger laws and greater protections for residents. UC Berkeley and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>