A UC Berkeley student named Eden experienced a frightening incident when she was followed to her apartment complex by a homeless man. This chase was captured by surveillance video on September 15, outside her Berkeley, California apartment.
Surveillance Footage of the Incident
The surveillance video shows Eden entering the secured building around 8 p.m. The man follows her by climbing over the locked gate. He appeared to be holding an object initially reported as a knife, but police later identified it as likely a barbecue lighter. There was no direct contact between the man and Eden.
Eden recounted to ABC7 that she was out walking her dog on Berkeley Way when the man approached her making strange gestures. He then began chasing her. She managed to enter the complex and reach an elevator before he could see her destination.
Police Response and Investigation
Berkeley Police received Eden’s call at about 8:04 p.m., but officers were occupied with other emergencies, including a domestic violence case and a missing person report. Officers arrived about an hour later but could not find the man.
The following night, police responded to another call reporting the same man lying on a sidewalk near Berkeley Way and Walnut Street. Officers detained and identified him, confirming his involvement in the previous incident. However, they did not arrest him.
“I shut the gate behind me, heard him and saw him climbing the gate,” said Eden.
Legal and Safety Considerations
Under California law, officers could not make a warrantless arrest for a misdemeanor not witnessed by them, so the man was released. Police have submitted the case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors are reviewing the situation to decide on filing charges.
Eden expressed disbelief that such a situation could occur, with the man allegedly entering a secured building and leaving without any legal consequence. She urged for stronger laws and increased protections for residents.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the case review. No charges had been filed by the time of the report. UC Berkeley has not commented on the incident.