A warning about possible sexual predators on campus led to the arrest of a third suspect Monday, although up to now there has been no direct sexual assault reported.
The original arrest dates back to July 8 and the arrest of a second man July 16 prompted John Fowler, director of Portland State University Campus Public Safety, to issue a crime alert notice on that date.
The initial incident occurred at 8:30 a.m. July 8 with a report that a man was masturbating outside the women’s restroom on the second floor of Smith Memorial Center. When officers responded, they found the individual lying on a lounge chair, unzipped and fully exposed.
Larry L. Woods, 44, no permanent address, was taken into custody for public indecency. He was reading an adult magazine and a custodial search turned up photos of nude women in his possession. It was determined he was on parole for other sexually related offences. His parole officer requested he be held and he was transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center.
On July 16, a different Campus Safety officer noted a man closely resembling Woods’ description loitering on the second floor of Smith Center. When approached, the man fled. He was stopped near the AAA building at Southwest Sixth Avenue and Market Street. It was not Woods, but Jeff Gamble, 47, also with no permanent address.
A warrants check showed Gamble was wanted on two felony theft charges. Gamble complained of difficulty breathing and claimed he might be suffering a heart attack. He was transported by ambulance to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. From there, he was transported to jail.
As a result of the two incidents, Fowler conferred with Daniel Bernstine, PSU president, and George Pernsteiner, vice president for Finance and Administration. They agreed a crime alert notice should be issued.
The notice brought quick action Monday, when Campus Safety received a complaint that a suspicious male was loitering in the second floor lounge of Smith Center. He was making female occupants uncomfortable with what they considered inappropriate staring.
Officers approached another male suspect, Peter B. Nguyen, 32. They learned he was wanted on a Multnomah County warrant for trespassing. He also was transported to jail.
Fowler’s crime alert issued July 16 stated, “In the past two weeks, Campus Public Safety officers have made two arrests involving possible sexual predators who were loitering or engaging in criminal behavior in the vicinity of women’s restrooms. In both cases, the restrooms were located in public areas of the university. The suspects involved were not associated with the university and were apparently targeting the restrooms in question.”
Monday, Fowler repeated his advice that members of the PSU community proactively evaluate their personal safety and take safety measures as appropriate, including calling the Campus Safety office at 503-725-4407 or in emergency at 503-725-4404.
Campus Safety has a booklet about crime safety, which includes information about sexual assault. It is available online at www.cpso.pdx.edu or by hard copy at the Campus Safety office, 1939 S.W. Broadway. A brochure on sexual harassment is available from the Office of Affirmative Action, Room 122 Cramer Hall.