LEWISTON – The Police Department is investigating two reports that a man exposed himself at two locations Sunday.

The first was at Subway on Main Street, the second in the vicinity of Bates College.

“This guy wanted to be seen,” police Sgt. David Chick said.

The man exposed himself through a window in the Bates vicinity in the evening, and a few hours before that at the restaurant, Chick said. Subway employees saw the behavior and called police.

At Bates, students in a private residence near the college heard a banging noise on their window, according to an e-mail from Thomas Carey, director of Security and Campus Safety.

When the students went to see who was knocking on the window, they saw a naked, white man masturbating. The man covered his face during the act, then ran off. Authorities were called.

Police are investigating.

“We have some leads,” Chick said. The man was described as having a thin build and in his late teens or early 20s.

Anyone who witnesses someone exposing himself or behaving inappropriately should immediately call the police, Chick advised. If the person subjected to the scene is alone, he or she should get in contact “with someone they trust,” so they’re not alone until police arrive.

It’s important, police said, to take note of the person’s features beyond the offensive area, such as height, facial looks and anything else that could help authorities make an arrest.

Often men exposing themselves is as far as the crime goes, but no one can assume that the person is not dangerous. “He’s already crossed one societal boundary,” Chick said, “Human behavior is unpredictable.”

Bates security agreed. Typically someone exposing himself isn’t dangerous, “but you can’t take a chance,” Carey said.

Witnessing someone flashing or acting out “is traumatic,” Chick said. Anyone subjected to that is a victim, he said.

Bates Security e-mailed the advisory to their community on Tuesday telling what happened, and offering what to do it if happens again. It was “distasteful” to write about the event, Carey said, but it’s important to be transparent and give students good information. “This was the first time this happened. Hopefully it’s the last,” he said.

Students were advised to contact security if they observe anyone in their college area who does not appear to belong on campus, is acting strangely, or is in an area by residence halls and home at an odd hour.

If someone is behaving inappropriately, students were told to stay away and call security, Carey said.