A man walking home near UC Berkeley was sexually assaulted by a stranger early Saturday on the 2300 block of College Avenue, authorities said. The attacker pulled the victim into a driveway and fled. The incident triggered a joint campus-and-city investigation and safety alerts to students and neighbors.
According to a Berkeley Police Department bulletin, the assault was reported around 1:50 a.m. on Nov. 8 and is case number 2025-00051506. The victim is a Berkeley man in his 20s who was walking in the South Campus area when a suspect—described as a Black male, about 20 to 30 years old and roughly 5-foot-10—pulled him into a driveway on the 2300 block of College Avenue. Investigators said the suspect was last seen in a black beanie, a gray/white hooded top and black jeans, and urged anyone with information to contact detectives.
Local reporting by Berkeley Scanner confirmed the police alert and noted that UC Berkeley issued a campus safety notice. The Scanner reported the sexual battery was reported after the fact and that no arrests had been announced as investigators follow up on leads. Students told local outlets they received the university alert and were reminded to use on-campus safety services.
How to help
Berkeley police are asking anyone who saw suspicious activity or who may have video from the area near College Avenue to contact the department’s Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735 and reference case 2025-00051506. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911. Police say tips—even if they seem minor—can be important to the investigation, per the Berkeley Police Department.
Legal context
Police classified the assault as a sexual battery with intent to commit rape, indicating investigators believe the attack to be sexual and intentional. That classification, and the fact the incident was reported after the fact, were noted as detectives continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses.
Support and campus safety resources
Anyone affected by this incident can contact UC Berkeley’s PATH to Care Center for confidential support; the office line is 510-642-1988 and the 24-hour care line is 510-643-2005, according to the center. The UC Police Department operates night-safety services—including BearWalk escorts and a night shuttle—for students traveling after dark, with details on the campus safety pages. PATH and UCPD maintain webpages with hotline numbers and guidance for survivors and those looking to report concerns.
City and campus officials urged neighbors and students to travel in groups, stick to well-lit routes and report suspicious behavior to police. Authorities said they will provide updates as the investigation proceeds.
