A woman says she was sexually assaulted inside a grocery store in the Winnetka area on Sunday, in an incident that has left her shaken and renewed concerns about shopper safety in Los Angeles County.
The alleged assault happened at a Vallarta supermarket, where the woman — identified only as Monica — said a man approached her under the pretense of helping, FOX 11 reported.
“You feel so violated, and it’s like invading your personal space,” Monica told the network. “You’re trying to process what is happening to you at that moment.”
FOX 11 LA
According to Monica, the man told her there was a bug on her back and offered to remove it. Instead, she said, he began touching her inappropriately.
“He was just like touching back and forth, and that’s when I started realizing, wait a minute, what is he doing?” she said. “That is not helping me get rid of a bug.”
Monica said she began screaming and called for security. A witness who recorded part of the aftermath described a chaotic scene as the suspect left the store.
“I heard this lady just frantically yelling,” said Jason Parillo, who was at the store at the time. “I saw this rather large dude walking by, and he’s raising his voice, saying profanities.”
Parillo said the man appeared to direct his anger at the woman as he exited.
“I see the lady, and obviously she’s scared,” he added.\
The suspect reportedly left the store before authorities arrived. It is unclear whether he has been identified or taken into custody.
The California Post has reached out to the Winnetka supermarket for comment on the alleged incident and what security measures are in place to protect customers.
The incident comes following a separate case in Los Angeles County involving a man accused of sexual battery at a Whole Foods store in Valencia.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, that incident happened March 23 at a store on Valencia Boulevard, where a suspect allegedly exposed himself and inappropriately touched a woman before fleeing.