Police: Stranger pulled down mask in Oregon WinCo, kissed toddler on the lips and walked away
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SPRINGFIELD, Oregon — Police arrested an Oregon man after reportedly kissing a stranger’s toddler on the lips inside a grocery store.
The Springfield Police Department reports that on Thursday around 6 p.m., a father flagged down an officer saying a stranger pulled off his facemask then kissed his daughter on the lips inside a WinCo store.
Police say the 18-month old girl was sitting in a shopping cart. When her mother glanced away for a moment, a man, later identified as 24-year-old Austin Blake Stewart, allegedly leaned down, removed his mask and kissed the girl on the lips before walking away.
The mother began looking for Stewart and told her husband and WinCo staff what happened. Police also obtained surveillance video from the store.
Officers eventually found Stewart under a blanket on a nearby street. He was booked into jail on charges of physical harassment and disorderly conduct.
Although Stewert is accused of crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.