USF Flasher Struck 3 Times in 1 Night, Police Say

TAMPA, FL — The University of South Florida Police Department is looking for help finding a man officers say exposed himself to students on the school's Tampa campus several times Thursday night.

According to the police department, the first call about a flasher came in around 6 p.m. Aug. 18. In that incident, officers took reports about a man exposing himself outside the USF Juniper Poplar Dining Hall. The man reportedly took off after being spotted and was last seen heading north in the area near Beard Drive.

A second call about the man came in around 9 p.m. This time, police say the man exposed himself outside the Fresh Foods dining area in the Argos Center. The incident wasn’t reported until about 30 minutes after it happened, police noted in an email to media.

That call was not the last police would receive about the flasher Thursday evening.

At 9:14 p.m. a third call came in about a white man “running naked through the fifth level of the Beard Drive Garage,” the email said.

Police responded to all three calls, but were unable to locate the man.

The suspect is described as being a white male, possibly in his 30s. When clothed, he was wearing a blue T-shirt, gray shorts and glasses, police say. The man has a thin build and short hair that is possibly gray or blond in color, police say.

Thursday's flashing incidents aren’t a first at USF, police noted. There were four similar cases reported in 2015 and three previous incidents occurred in April 2016 with one arrest made.

“We are looking to see if these current incidents are related to past occurrences,” the email said. “Other surrounding law enforcement agencies have been contacted with information regarding these cases.”

Anyone with information about the flasher or the other incidents is asked to call USF police at 813-974-2628.

Students are reminded to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Police also ask that students report suspicious activity immediately by calling 911. Students are also encouraged to use the USF SAFE Team safety escort service when they’re on campus. The number to call for an escort is 813-974-SAFE.

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