A total of six victims have come forward to the University Police Department in connection to a suspect arrested in Park Merced Thursday for multiple counts of indecent exposure, according to University officials.
UPD officers arrested Kaine Sinclair near campus March 12 after they witnessed the suspect exposing himself to a woman, according Deputy Chief Reggie Parson, commanding officer for UPD’s Investigations Division.
“The case is being investigated by the UPD,” Parson said in an email. “The UPD has increased our patrols and augmented our patrol techniques.”
The officers apprehended 19-year-old Sinclair at 3:43 p.m. and took him into custody, according to the University’s crime log.
Sinclair, who is not affiliated with the University, has been linked to an another reported incident of indecent exposure that took place March 9 in Park Merced, according to a Clery alert sent out to students March 13.
Sinclair’s case is ongoing and charges are pending, Parson said.
Students received a second alert of indecent exposure that occurred in University Park North March 11. A woman reportedly saw an unknown man who exposed himself to her at 4:10 p.m. while driving a blue car on Buckingham Way.
The suspect reportedly masturbated inside his vehicle while he drove by, according to the University police crime log. Sinclair was not connected to the March 11 incident on Buckingham Way, according to Parson.
Sinclair’s arrest capped off a string of Clery alerts from the University last week.
Biology major Enxhi Tahiraj said she appreciates the updates from the University regarding incidents on and around campus, but thinks there is a chance some incidents go unreported because some victims are uncomfortable with going to the police.
“If more people are reporting it you feel like you’re not alone,” Tahiraj said.
Tahiraj said that she’s happy UPD arrested a suspect, but wishes more would be done to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.
“It feels better, but at the same time I wish there was more protection because I don’t see a lot of security around school,” Tahiraj said. “I feel previous semesters they were a bit more protective, but this semester I rarely see security or police at school.”
Senior Maddie Pop was impressed with how quickly UPD responded and apprehended Sinclair. Pop said she agreed that there needs to be more done to prevent incidents like the one reported that took place March 9.
Throughout the U.S., public four-year colleges reported a total of 17 non-forcible sex offenses in 2013, according to a database of campus crime statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Although there has been a recent surge of indecent exposures at SF State, in 2013 there were zero reported non-forcible sex offenses from any of the Bay Area public four-year colleges, the report stated.
There have been five indecent exposure reports between March 9 and March 15, according to the campus crime map available on the school’s website. Parson confirmed at least six victims tied to Sinclair, four of them taking place near the intersection of Arballo and Pinto drives where Sinclair was apprehended.
Police have not located a suspect in the indecent exposure case reported March 11 at UPN.
UPD recommended students and staff take advantage of the Campus Alliance for a Risk-Free Environment escort program to minimize personal risk while on campus. Students can call (415) 338-7200 to schedule an escort.
