Police are looking for a sexual battery suspect after police say he assaulted a 19-year-old while she was in the library.
According to Decatur police, the victim was in the Decatur library on Sycamore Street on Jan. 19 around 12:40 p.m. when the suspect approached her as she was walking into the restroom.
She told police, the man told her that they went to elementary school together and said he needed to talk to her about a private matter. She followed him into a stairway.
"The suspect began to ask questions and make statements of a sexual nature, then he exposed himself," police stated.
The victim told police she turned away but then he grabbed her buttocks, kissed her on the cheek and then on her mouth.
"The victim told the suspect she was feeling uncomfortable," Decatur police said.
He eventually stopped and the victim left the library. She went home and told her mom what happened. That's when they filed the report on Jan. 25.
It's a situation that has caught patrons of the library off-guard. Most people coming or going from the library said it was a safe place when 11Alive asked.
"I have no problem with the security at the library," said one.
"I think Decatur is a pretty safe place," said another.
But when they learned of what took place inside, they were surprised.
The suspect is described as a black male who was about 20 years old with a dark complexion. He was about 5 feet 5 inches tall, had a slender build, close-cut black hair and a mustache.
That afternoon, he was wearing a dark shirt, dark pants and a gray jacket.
DeKalb County officials said that security at the library is done by county employees hired as guards. But when asked specifics about the amount of security or if they are armed, officials said they could release records detailing security protocols at public facilities through open records requests.
If you recognize this man please call Decatur Police at 404-373-6551.
