GIRL SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN TARGET STORE

PFMLIT General, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS COMMITTING CRIMES IN PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS COMMITTING RANDOM SEX CRIMES, STORES, STORES, UNSOLVED SEX CRIMES

Police were searching for a man Monday who they say sexually assaulted an 11 year old girl at a Target store, threatened her with a knife and moved her from department to department before releasing her.  A surveillance video from the Charleston store before the assault showed the man watching the girl while her mother was shopping in another area.  The suspect posed as a security guard Saturday night, told the girl he saw her steal something and ordered her to follow him.  Then he pulled a knife and forced her into the garden department where he assaulted her.  When too many shoppers walked into the area, he led her into the men's clothing department where he assaulted her again.  Police released the surveillance video showing the man, described as a white male in his 30s.  South Charleston Police Sgt. Robert Yeager said the incident appeared to be isolated, but the suspect showed tendencies of being a prior offender.  The suspect will likely face charges of first degree sexual abuse and first degree sexual assault.

(Charleston, West Virginia)