The Dalton Police Department is investigating an assault on a woman at the West Walnut Avenue Kroger on Monday night. The suspect fled on foot towards the Longhorn Restaurant.
The incident was first considered a possible carjacking attempt. However, police said Tuesday that the man groped the woman and it is being treated as a sexual assault.
Police said the man became spooked when her daughter in the back seat cried out.
The incident happened at approximately
8:20 p.m.
When the female victim got into her car, she reported that a black male opened the passenger side door and got into the car. The suspect grabbed the victim, but got back out of the car and fled when the daughter screamed. After the suspect fled, the victim ran back into the store with her child.
The suspect is a black male wearing a dark gray hoodie and jeans with black shoes standing between 5'9" and 5'11" with a medium build. The suspect has patchy facial hair.
Anyone who sees this suspect or has information on this incident is asked to call 911 or the non-emergency number for 911 dispatch at
706-370-4900.