Man Found Masturbating At Meek Center Library

A 25-year-old man was found masturbating at the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center library on Jan. 30, according to a public safety incident report.

According to H. Leigh Toney, the executive director of the Meek Center, an on-site police officer was informed of the incident, but  “the police opted not (to) pursue a case as the sole witness reporting the incident had left the building.”

Corneilla Green, a Supervision Management major at Miami Dade College who said she witnessed the incident and spoke to a  public safety officer about what she saw, said her information was never requested to pursue the case.

“They just told him to get off the campus,” Green said. “No one said they were going to call the police.”

“I think he should’ve been arrested,” Green added.

Toney said public safety worked with the library and student services staff to identify the individual. According to Toney, the man had not been an MDC student since 2007.

“Student ID’s do not expire. This practice is currently under recommendation to be revised,”said Estrella Iglesias, learning resources director at North, West and the Meek Center. Iglesias added that all MDC libraries are open to the public.

The Reporter is withholding the name of the man listed in the public safety report because he was not charged with a crime.

Green said public safety took too long to react and didn’t respond accordingly.

But according to Toney, Mark Marshall the assistant chief of public safety at the Meek Center, responded immediately and approached the individual.

Public safety records show Marshall asked the individual to hand him his ID, but the individual said he forgot it at home and then left the campus.

“Campus Public Safety offices have been alerted and a “No Trespass” alert is in effect for this individual,” Toney said. “Officers are aware to be alert to ensure that he is not allowed on campus.”

Despite that, Green said that she does not feel safe.

“I feel like it can happen again,” Green said.

Toney said that an incident such as this is not common at the Meek Center.

“Our Public Safety staff is vigilant and available to students,” Toney said. “In my 11 years at this Center, I have always felt safe and work to ensure the safety of all our students and staff.”