LSUPD responded to a “video voyeurism” call at Middleton Library Tuesday after a female student said a man was videotaping up her skirt.
The student, who did not want to be identified by name since no suspect has been apprehended, said she was studying in a third-floor cubicle when another student began yelling at a man who was crouched on the floor in front of the cubicle.
When the victim looked down, she saw the man putting an object in his backpack. The other student then said the object was a camera the man had been using to videotape up the victim’s skirt.
“I started walking toward him, and he ran,” the victim said. “If [the other student] wouldn’t have said anything, I wouldn’t have known.”
Both students reported the incident to a library worker who then called LSUPD. The police responded around 2 p.m.
LSUPD Maj. Mark Shaw classified the incident as “video voyeurism.”
Video voyeurism, as defined in Title 14, Section 283 of state law, is the use of video equipment to record a person who has not consented for “a lewd purpose.”
It is a felony punishable upon first offense by a $2,000 fine and up to two years in prison with hard labor.
The library is a place where “many people tend to loiter,” Shaw said, which makes it susceptible to “bizarre” behavior.
Another “bizarre” incident that occurred on the third floor of the library in October resulted in peeping Tom charges for a man.
The man was charged for looking at other men through a hole in a bathroom stall.
“If you were up to inappropriate behavior you could easily disguise that intent with something that could look like normal behavior,” he said.
Shaw said library patrons should be aware of their surroundings because of the number of people who use the library.
Jennifer Cargill, dean of University libraries, agreed with Shaw. She said the library is safe, but encouraged patrons to notify a library worker for any reason they feel is necessary.
“Some students are reluctant to file reports,” Cargill said. “Get to a staff member as quickly as possible so the police can be called.”
Cargill said the victim of the video voyeurism incident should be commended for notifying a library employee and LSUPD.
Shaw said a sketch of the man who had the video camera has not been made.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact LSUPD at 578-3231.