Sinclair College police confirmed that an incident of indecent exposure, or “flashing,” occurred at the downtown Dayton campus on July 29.
Michael Coss, Sinclair’s director of public safety and chief of police, said the incident happened between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m. A female student was on the fourth floor of Building 13, awaiting the start of classes, when a man exposed himself to her.
Coss said the student took some time to collect herself, but still reported the incident promptly.
Using security footage, campus police determined that the suspect entered the building shortly before the act and exited shortly after. He had left by the time the report was filed.
The investigation is ongoing, so it is not clear whether the man was a fellow student or an outside predator.
In Ohio, a first offense of indecent exposure is considered a fourth-degree misdemeanor. It can carry a penalty of up to 60 days in jail as well as monetary fines. Penalties worsen as offenses repeat.
Coss urges students who may experience flashing, or any sort of harassment, to contact campus police immediately.
“The sooner we know what happened, the sooner we can act,” he said.
The Department of Public Safety is located in Building 7, room 112 and operates 24 hours a day.
To report past or non-emergency incidents, a tip form is available. For immediate reports, the department can be reached at (937) 512-2700.
Hannah Kichline, executive editor
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