Police on Friday arrested a man suspected of groping a child at the Wal-Mart store in Fridley this week.
The suspect, 29, was arrested after his home in Columbia Heights was searched by police. Authorities received several calls from the public after the case was reported in the media.
The suspect was arrested in Crystal. He hasn't been charged, but was booked into the Anoka County jail on suspicion of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Police said the suspect has a criminal history, including indecent exposure and similar groping incidents involving women. No new victims have filed a report, said Cmdr. Paul Sommer of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.
The assault occurred Monday and was called "particularly brazen" and "startling," police said. Store surveillance footage showed the attacker apparently stalking the young girl and her family as they moved about the store. About 2:10 p.m., he reached out and groped the girl as her mother and older sibling were standing next to her, Sommer said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The man left the store after the incident. He didn't flee so much as slip away, Sommer said.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
