‘Suspicious’ Berkeley Man Sought: Cops

BERKELEY, CA — Authorities are asking for the public’s help locating a man who last week claimed to be a cop while following a high school-aged girl while she was walking, the Berkeley Police Department said.

The suspect is seen in a video the BPD released of the incident, which occurred Sept. 29 at around 6:24 p.m. in the 1300 block of Gilman Street, according to police.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 30’s, between 5-foot-8 and 6-feet tall with an athletic build and short hair, police said.

He was wearing a black baseball cap, a dark short sleeve (possibly a gray polo shirt with a light logo on the left side of the shirt), cargo pants and an American flag neck gator.

The man told the girl that he was an armed police officer and demanded a hug, according to police.

When the girl refused and kept walking, the man continued to follow her, repeating his claims of being an armed officer before stepping in front of the girl and blocking her path, police said.

The girl then ran away from the man safety and called authorities, police said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the BPD’s Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735.

Residents of the area of Gilman Street, Acton Street and Hopkins Street that have a security camera are asked to review their camera for any footage that may have recorded the suspect Sept. 29 between 6:15 and 6:45 pm.