After entering a number of rooms in Cabot House and stealing an Ec 10 problem set about the prisoner’s dilemma, one student may find himself pondering different prisoner’s dilemmas. Real ones, this time.

Mario G. Garcia ’09 was arrested at 4:42 am on Friday and is charged with assault and battery, annoying and accosting a person of the opposite sex, and breaking and entering in the nighttime with the intent to commit felony, according to the Harvard University Police Department public log. Garcia, who goes by Carlo, is a biology concentrator in Cabot House. He entered at least two rooms while their inhabitants were in bed and tried to talk to them about the homework for Social Analysis 10: “Principles of Economics.”

The arrest occurred merely five hours into Garcia’s 21st birthday, but HUPD declined to comment on whether Garcia was under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

“I had no idea who the person was. I then asked him to leave, but instead he sat on my bed and continued to ask questions about the problem set,” Wintha F. Kelati ’11, who is also on the Crimson business board, wrote in an e-mail.

“The whole thing seemed so bizarre I was honestly convinced I was dreaming. I woke up a few hours later and realized my problem set was gone,” she added.

Kelati’s Ec 10 problem set, which was due on that Friday, was repossessed from Garcia by HUPD after the arrest and is currently being held as evidence.

“I had to call HUPD to get my problem set back so that I could turn it in, but they told me I couldn’t have the original because it was evidence in court. So they had to make me a photocopy,” Kelati said.

After leaving Kelati’s room, Garcia entered another room, laying down on a female student’s bed and touching her body in the process, according to HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano. He was arrested after the student physically forced him out of her room.

A number of other students living on third floor in Cabot G and H entryway reported that Garcia knocked on their doors that morning and asked them odd questions. Amanda C.E. Klimczuk ’10 said he asked her if “Alex” lived in her room when she opened the door.

“I pointed at my name on the door and told him good night,” she said.

Another student said Garcia asked her for a certain “Kristina Liu,” so that she could help him with a Molecular and Chemical Biology problem set. No College student under that name lives in Cabot.

Garcia was arraigned on the same day. He could not be reached for comment.

“It is my sincere hope that the material taught in Ec 10 will provide a catalyst for discussion among students beyond the classroom,” N. Gregory Mankiw, the professor of Ec 10, wrote in an e-mailed statement. “There are, however, better ways for that discussion to take place,” he added.

—Staff writer Michal Labik can be reached at labik@fas.harvard.edu