Dr. Martha Pilcher, a statistics professor at the UW Business School, was detained Monday afternoon by security at Seattle's University Village shopping center for harassing passersby.

Above: U Village Security Guard Garrett Bark.

Pilcher was said to be "agitated."

"We received approximately five reports of unwarranted solicitation and harassment between 1:45 and 2:00 PM," said Garrett Bark, Head of Security at University Village. "We investigated, and observed the suspect stop and question no fewer than eight different people in just three minutes. Based on this, our officer apprehended the suspect and escorted her to our holding area."

"I was out for the day with my nine-year old son," said Andrea Fuller, "and we had just had a smoothie at World Wrapps. The second we walked out the door, this woman swoops in and asks if Johnny is in the fourth grade. I was startled, but told her he was. Next thing I know, she's pulled out a scale and is asking to weigh him. The nerve!"

Other shoppers report similar behavior.

"It was just crazy," said Jessica Warner, 20, a sophomore at the University of Washington. "I was, like, sitting outside, sipping on a Frappuccino and talking on my cell phone to my friend Brandy. Suddenly, this woman is all up in my face about how much I've spent at the mall today, and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. I mean, Hel-LO?! That's none of your business!"

Mr. Bark confirmed that these reports are typical of others he's received.

"People definitely were taken aback," he said. "The most widespread report we've heard involved Dr. Pilcher thrusting a fishbowl at passersby and asking them to 'scoop out' the marbles in it in order to count them. It was pretty unnerving."

"We try hard to provide a pleasant shopping experience here at the University Village," said Bark, "And our no-solicitation and no-harassment policies are posted clearly at the entrances to the property. While we respect Dr. Pilcher's academic credentials, we cannot and will not tolerate this kind of behavior on the premises."

Dr. Pilcher was unavailable for comment.