What was supposed to be a routine grocery run at the Vallarta Supermarket in Winnetka turned into a disturbing encounter when a shopper said a stranger walked up, claimed he was brushing off a bug, then groped her before slipping out of the store. Other customers quickly jumped in to flag down help, but the man was gone before deputies arrived. The woman was left shaken, and authorities later circulated a surveillance image of the suspect as they opened an investigation.
According to the New York Post, which cited local television coverage, the victim, identified only as Monica, said the man approached her in the store and told her he was removing a bug before touching her inappropriately. Witnesses told reporters that the suspect walked out of the Vallarta location and had already fled the area by the time law enforcement arrived. Police released the surveillance image and asked the public to help identify him.
Witnesses recall a chaotic scene
One shopper, Jason Parillo, told reporters he “heard a woman frantically yelling” and then saw a large man raising his voice and using profanities as he headed for the exit, the New York Post reports. Other customers snapped photos, called for help and tried to steady the victim while store employees stepped in to comfort her. Video and images captured by people inside the market were shared with investigators as they conducted an initial canvass.
Similar cases in LA County
The Winnetka incident comes amid other reports of sexual misconduct at grocery stores across Los Angeles County. Deputies previously released photos from a March 23 incident at a Whole Foods in Valencia, where a man allegedly exposed himself and inappropriately touched a shopper before running off. Authorities later arrested a suspect in that case, according to ABC7, after tips from the public helped move the investigation forward.
Police request tips
Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the man in the Winnetka images or has information about the case to contact local law enforcement, and the New York Post notes that police are actively seeking tips. In the Valencia investigation, deputies urged the public to call Detective Hatami at 661-260-4000, ext. 5620, or reach Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, per local reporting by FOX 11. Investigators have also reminded shoppers to stay alert in crowded public spaces and to quickly report suspicious behavior…