Altamonte Springs police are looking for a man who grabbed a woman from behind while she shopped inside the Ulta in Uptown Altamonte on Easter Sunday. The woman fought back and struck him, and he ran out of the store, rattling shoppers in the busy retail hub near Crane's Roost Park. Investigators say the case appears to be an isolated incident, but the search is still very much active.
Police description and timeline
Officers were called around 12:30 p.m. Sunday after the woman reported being grabbed inside the Ulta at 375 E. Altamonte Drive, according to ClickOrlando. Witnesses told police the suspect is about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build, in his 30s or 40s, with dark hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a peach button-down shirt and gray pants.
Shopper reaction
Word of the encounter spread fast after someone posted about it in a local Facebook group, prompting concern from neighbors who frequent the area. “It’s scary because I live on the other side of Crane's Roost and I walk my dog,” one resident told ClickOrlando. Police told the station they believe the incident was isolated and said investigators have “active leads” in the case.
How to report tips
The Altamonte Springs Police Department lists its non-emergency line as (407) 339-2441 on the city's website, according to the City of Altamonte Springs. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS, per Crimeline.
Where this happened
The Ulta sits in Uptown Altamonte, the city's walkable shopping and dining district that wraps around Crane's Roost Park and draws steady foot traffic for events and evening outings. MapQuest describes Cranes Roost Park as a 45-acre outdoor venue in the heart of Uptown Altamonte, which helps explain how quickly neighbors spotted and shared the social media post about the incident.
