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LINCOLNTON, N.C. – It was anything but business as usual inside the Wal-Mart in Lincolnton on Monday. Β A woman shopping in the shoe section was approached by a black man wearing khakis and a sweater. Β He was about 6′ tall and 220 lbs. Β He claimed to be a student of podiatry and asked to see her bare feet. Β He took cell phone video and pictures of her feet “to study,” he told her. Β And then, before she knew what was happening, he put her toes in his mouth and sucked on them.
“I go, ‘what happened?’ (He said,) ‘Oh, sorry, ma’am. I’m sorry.’ I go, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘Please, please, I’m sorry.’ (I said,) ‘No, what happened,” says the victim. Β WCCB is not identifying the woman because of the nature of the crime. Β She spoke to us with the help of her daughter. Β She says she was, “Scared, disgusted.” Her daughter adds, “Freaked out. Β She was in shock.”
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The guy apparently offered to pay for her groceries if she forgave him. Β She refused, he left, and she called for help. Β
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“Very bizarre, first time I’ve ever heard of it,” says Lincolnton Police Detective Dennis Harris. His team arrested 31-year-old Michael Brown late Thursday and charged him with one count of assault on a female, a misdemeanor. More charges could come. Β Harris says, “I actually received a call from a lady that was at the Denver Wal-Mart just prior to this, and basically the same thing happened to her, but she refused to take her socks off.”Β
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Brown, who lives in Concord, has been a registered sex offender since 2004. Β He was booked in Lincolnton at the magistrate’s office on the new charge Thursday night.Β
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In addition to being nicely dressed, the victim also says Brown was polite and soft-spoken. Β If you can help police with this case or if you know of any other victims, call Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.
