University of California at Berkeley police are seeking the public's help in finding a sex offender who is suspected of sexually battering a female student near People's Park on Monday night.
Campus police said the victim, a 25-year-old student, was walking east in the 2600 block of Dwight Way at about 9:35 p.m. on Monday when a male suspect began yelling at her, ran across the street and grabbed her in the groin area.
The suspect then ran west on Dwight Way toward People's Park, police said. Authorities said they then detained 50-year-old Roger Lopez based on the victim's description of the suspect.
However, university police said they didn't arrest Lopez because the victim couldn't positively identify him as her assailant.
But police said they believe Lopez to be the suspect because of the statements they made to him.
Campus police said Lopez has an extensive criminal history but because there weren't any outstanding warrants for his arrest they released him and merely ordered him to stay away from campus for seven days.
Police said they later determined that Lopez is a sex registrant and he's out of compliance.
Lopez is described by police as a 50-year-old white man standing 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build, blue eyes and white hair.
Police said he was wearing a jean jacket, a black T-shirt, jeans and a green cap.
--By Bay City News
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