A disturbing search is underway after a man allegedly carried out a brazen and deeply inappropriate act on an unsuspecting shopper inside a California grocery store, with the shocking moment caught on camera.
Authorities say the incident unfolded on March 23 at a Whole Foods Market, where a woman was shopping when she was targeted by a stranger in a crowded aisle.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies were called to the store following reports of a sexual assault, but the suspect had already fled the scene before officers arrived.
What happened next has left investigators and the public stunned.
Surveillance footage from inside the store allegedly shows the man approaching the woman from behind before exposing himself and performing a sickening act. In the video, he appears to rub himself against the woman’s ear while holding a cellphone, seemingly attempting to record or conceal his behavior.
The victim, who was unaware of what was happening in the moment, only learned of the alleged assault afterward, adding to the disturbing nature of the case.
Police have since released details in hopes the public can help identify the suspect, who is described as a man in his mid-30s, wearing a denim shirt and jeans at the time of the incident.
Investigators are now urging anyone who may recognize the individual or have information to come forward and contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
