A masked man indecently exposed himself in an East Halls women's bathroom just days before spring break, and Penn State Police aren't ruling out that he may be responsible for four other similar incidents last fall.
A female resident told police a masked man with a skinny build and dark eyes exposed himself to her at about 10:45 p.m. on March 2 in a women's communal bathroom at Brumbaugh Hall.
The man was reportedly shirtless at the time of the incident but was wearing jeans and a neoprene mask with mouth and eyeholes cut out, police said. Authorities say he is about 6-foot-1-inch. Penn State Police Deputy Director Tyrone Parham said despite this being the seventh indecent exposure reported this academic year, he doesn't think it's a trend on campus.
"We have no reason to believe this is a growing issue," Parham said Friday, "We will continue interviewing students who may have seen or heard something for last week."
Parham said police are unsure if this incident is related to four indecent exposures reported last semester:
Aug. 10 - 21, 2009: Three indecent exposures in Brumbaugh and Holmes Halls were reported to police. The actor was a masked, college-age male with a skinny build and dark hair.
Sept. 6, 2009: A masked man exposed himself to a woman doing laundry at about 1:15 a.m. in the basement of Holmes Hall. The man was wearing a mask, had a skinny build and light skin, and was naked from the waist down.
State College Police Department Capt. Dana Leonard said it is not unusual for exposures to be connected, as those who commit this type of crime may be a "serial offender."
"We've been able to link one perpetrator to other incidents," Leonard said. "They would do it over and over. It's some sort of sexual compulsion."
Parham said police do not have any further information on the case since it took place right before students left for spring break. Police are asking residents to lock their doors, refrain from piggybacking into dorms and report any suspicious activity to authorities at (814) 863-1111.
