Chamblee police are on the hunt for a man accused of a vile assault in a Whole Foods Market last Saturday afternoon. Dr. Sabine Lovell, a local plastic surgeon, became the victim of an indecent attack when she felt something hit her back while shopping. She was picking up a few groceries at the store's 5001 Peachtree Boulevard location after a Pilates class, according to WSBTV.
Lovell initially thought she had been the victim of a messy accident — maybe a spilled drink — but the truth was much darker. "At first, I thought someone had spilled coffee on me. But then I turned around and saw this man zip up his pants. With context clues, I realized what happened," she recounted, according to WSBTV. After recognizing the substance was seminal, she raised alarm and chased after the assailant in an attempt to stop him. The suspect managed to flee the scene, with Lovell highlighting the importance of catching him. "This was broad daylight on a Saturday. I'm sure he's done this before or this could escalate to something more like rape or murder," Lovell told FOX 5 Atlanta.
Details from the FOX5 report describe the suspect as a Black man in his late 20s or early 30s, around 5-feet-11-inches tall with short to medium-length black hair, and seen wearing silver glasses alongside a navy zip-up jacket. An eyewitness was able to snap a photo of the man's black Kia Niro's license plate as he made his escape, which has become a focal point of investigation. The Chamblee Police Department is using the Flock security system to track down the vehicle, and security footage from the Whole Foods Market appears to align with Dr. Lovell's harrowing account.
The incident has cast a spotlight on public safety issues, with a representative from Whole Foods affirming their cooperation with the police inquiry. Lovell, maintaining her resolve, asserts she will do what she can to ensure the man is apprehended. "It was so brazen...3 p.m. on a Saturday at a packed Whole Foods. It was absolutely horrifying and disgusting. Just unreal. I’m sure he’s a repeat offender. I don't want him to do this to anyone else in the future," she told WSBTV. Chamblee authorities are urging anyone with information about the man to come forward and assist with their ongoing investigation.
