On 15 September, surveillance footage captured a UC Berkeley student allegedly being chased by a homeless man into her locked apartment building in Berkeley, California. The student, identified only as Eden, had been walking her dog when the man approached her and began running towards her; she managed to enter the secured complex and reach an elevator as he climbed over the locked gate and followed her inside. The incident highlights growing security concerns for residents and raises questions about law enforcement response, particularly given California's legal restrictions on warrantless arrests for misdemeanours not committed in an officer's presence.

Police received Eden's call at approximately 8:04 p.m., but patrol officers were occupied with other high-priority emergencies, including a domestic violence case and a missing person report; they consequently arrived approximately an hour later and were unable to locate the suspect. The following evening, officers found a man matching the description lying on a nearby sidewalk and identified him as the alleged perpetrator, though California law prevented them from making a warrantless arrest for the misdemeanour. The man had been holding an object initially believed to be a knife, though police later determined it was likely a barbecue lighter, and confirmed there was no direct physical contact between the two parties. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office was subsequently reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.