Wheelchair user assaulted at suburban Philadelphia supermarket

From WPVI-TV in Philadelphia:

PAOLI, Pa. -- Chester County authorities are looking for a person of interest after a wheelchair-bound man was indecently assaulted in a public restroom.

It happened inside an Acme supermarket in Paoli.

Detectives say the 40-year-old victim was attacked inside a bathroom there on August 8th.

According to investigators, the victim was forcibly removed from his wheelchair and assaulted over a period of five minutes in a small bathroom around 3:30 on that Saturday afternoon.

The victim's caregiver was a woman, and was waiting outside the restroom when the attack occured.

Police say the victim took a long time to talk about the attack, which is why it is just coming to light more than a month later.

Investigators say it appears the attacker may be a transient based on his appearance and the items he had in a shopping cart.

"It's shocking, this type of crime. It's unconscionable," said Chief Andy Travers of the Tredyffrin Township Police. "This type of crime, especially in Tredyffrin Township, is unpredictable and that's why we want to be all over this right away."

Shoppers were shocked to hear of this type of crime in their neighborhood grocery store.

"I can't believe something like that would happen, especially in a crowded grocery store on the Main Line," said Brian Gilroy of Drexel Hill.

"I have kids that go in that bathroom. I don't let them go in by themselves," said Denise Cook of Berwyn. "You have to worry, there's all types of crazy people out there.

Acme says it is cooperating with the investigation.