The Bay Area Rapid Transit Police announced a man has been arrested after groping a woman at a BART Station. They also stated sexual harassment and gender-based violence will not be tolerated.
According to BART Police, the incident occurred on Thursday, November 29 at the Berkely Station. Police were alerted of a man grabbing a woman’s buttocks at the station. While the man ran out of the station, the agent kept their eye on the suspect and flagged down the responding officer.
BART Police located the suspect, James Starr, 29 of Antioch, inside the McDonald’s on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley and arrested him. Police also later learned while the suspect fled the station, he committed similar acts against two other victims in the City of Berkeley’s jurisdiction.
Starr was booked into the Alameda County Jail in Dublin. He was issued a BART Prohibition Order banning him from returning to BART.
In a statement, BART Police said:
The safety of women, girls, and all our riders are our top priority. We encourage all riders to report any form of gender-based harassment and violence so we can take appropriate action.
All of our frontline employees, not just police, are a resource and will call BART police. BART has the Not One More Girl initiative in place to help prevent and address gender based harassment and violence. Learn more about the program and how to report harassment at bart.gov/NotOneMoreGirl
Pittsburg Man Charged for Attacking Woman at Walnut Creek BART
In October, A Pittsburg man has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office for attacking a female victim at the Walnut Creek BART station. 35-year-old Richard Lee McDowell faces a three-count felony complaint for kidnapping, attempted rape, and assault of a 20-year-old Jane Doe who resides in Daly City. That incident occurred on October 7 – more info
