Homeless Man Scales Locked Gate After Pursuing UC Berkeley Student, Remains Free
A surveillance video captured a homeless man climbing a locked gate and entering a Berkeley apartment complex after allegedly chasing a UC Berkeley student, who later reported the incident to police.
Security footage from a Berkeley apartment building shows a UC Berkeley student, identified as Eden, entering a locked gate around 8 p.m. on September 15 after a man began following her while holding what was first reported as a knife but later assessed as a barbecue lighter. The man scaled the gate and entered the complex, while Eden reached an elevator and shut the gate behind her. Police received her call at 8:04 p.m., but officers were occupied with other emergencies and arrived roughly an hour later, unable to find the suspect.
The following night, officers located the same man lying on a sidewalk near Walnut Street and Berkeley Way, detained him, and confirmed his involvement, yet did not arrest him due to state restrictions on warrantless arrests for non-present misdemeanors. Investigators have submitted the case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, which is reviewing whether to file charges. Eden expressed shock at the suspect’s ability to enter a secured area and called for stronger legal protections for residents.
Why it matters
The case highlights gaps in legal authority that can allow suspects to evade immediate arrest after alleged trespassing.
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