Suspect taken into custody after report of lewd behavior, barricade in USC library

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Authorities took a male suspect into custody Saturday afternoon on suspicion of doing a lewd act in the Doheny Memorial Library at USC and then barricading himself inside to avoid apprehension.

Authorities said a female contacted USC public safety after she saw the man engaging in a lewd behavior. It was unclear what that action was.

The suspect fled from officers when they tried to take him into custody, police said, and he then barricaded himself inside the library.

The university issued an alert to students asking anyone inside the library to exit and that they would be escorted out by police.

Another alert was sent out around 5:30 p.m. informing students the library would reopen because the suspect was taken into custody.