Report: Man arrested after grabbing employee’s backside | Crime

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested a West Columbia man they say went into a local business and groped a female employee.

Deputies were dispatched to the Family Dollar located on Augusta Road in reference to a suspicious person.

Upon arrival, officers met with the store clerk who stated that 35-year-old Juan Hernandez entered the store and grabbed her rear end, according to the report.

The clerk said Hernandez approached her and asked if she had a boyfriend. Moments later, Hernandez came around the counter and grabbed the woman’s buttocks, according to Sheriff Metts.

The clerk yelled “no,” and left the store, the report said.

A short time later, Hernandez re-entered the store and confronted the victim, before walking around the counter and touching the woman’s bottom again, according to Sheriff Metts.

The victim advised deputies that Hernandez then went to the back of the store and waited for all the customers to leave, before approaching her for a third time.

The report said this time Hernandez attempted to touch the clerk’s breasts and backside.

The clerk contacted law enforcement.

Hernandez was arrested on charges of second-degree assault and battery and public disorderly conduct. Hernandez also was placed on trespass notice at the business where the assault occurred.

Hernandez was being held on Wednesday, February 6 at the Detention Center on bail totaling $2,262.50.