Man Arrested for Lewd Act at Cal Library

A 23-year-old man was arrested for performing a lewd act Tuesday at the main UC Berkeley library, campus police said today, Thursday.

The man was seen by a staff member at Doe Library exposing himself and performing a lewd act while seated at a computer in a public area about 9 a.m., police said in a crime alert.


The staff member contacted UC Berkeley police, who arrested the man, police said. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail on $15,000 bail on suspicion of indecent exposure and committing a lewd act in public, according to inmate records from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

UC police identified the man as Joel Wagner and said, "There is reason to believe Wagner may have committed similar acts on and near the UC Berkeley campus in the recent past."

"Wagner is not a student and has no apparent legitimate reason to be on the UC Berkeley campus," the police alert said. "If you see him on University property or engaged in a criminal act, please call the police."

Police released the accompanying photograph of Wagner and described him as "a White male, 23 years of age, 5’08” in height, 150 lbs., with black short hair and a black beard and green eyes."

Police asked that anyone who recognizes him or has "reason to believe he should be considered a suspect in other crimes" to contact the UC police Criminal Investigation Bureau at (510) 642-0472 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at (510) 642-6760 at all other times.

See also:

• Exposure, Lewd Act by Man in Women's Restroom at UC Berkeley

For other police-related news on Berkeley Patch, see our "Police and Fire" section.