Suspect wanted for alleged reports of lewdness at Utah State University. (Photo: USU Police Department)
LOGAN — Utah State University police have arrested a man suspected of leaving notes with pornographic images on cars and exposing himself in public. Anderson Bectemba Barnes, 44, was booked temporarily Sunday into the Cache County Jail after police asked for the public’s help identifying him.
According to the USU police, officers claim that on June 17, Barnes taped a note to a woman’s vehicle with a pornographic image inside. The incident happened in the area of Old Main. He was was seen on the Logan campus that day between 10 a.m. and 1:43 p.m.
Then again on June 25, police said a driver was traveling on US-89 at the intersection of Champ Drive near the Family Life building, when they noticed Barnes with his shorts down, exposing himself to traffic.
Officers said, although the individual did not report it to police at the time, they did tell coworkers. Barnes was again seen on campus that same day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
June 26, the same driver pulled into campus in the same area and parked in front of the Agriculture Sciences building. When they went to leave, they found a note with a pornographic image taped to their car. The note had similar verbiage used in the prior letter.
Barnes was reportedly observed again on campus that day between 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., officials reported.
Police said that each time Barnes went to campus, he changed into shorts. He also carried a black backpack with white lettering on the front.
The USU Police Department posted several photos of Barnes last week, asking for the public’s help identifying and locating him.
According to jail records, Barnes was booked on suspicion of possessing a dangerous weapon, a third-degree felony; and multiple misdemeanors for distributing an intimate image, lewdness and providing false information to police. Formal charges are pending the completion of law enforcement’s investigation.
will@cvradio.com