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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is charged with sexual battery after police say he fondled a woman who was walking in Midtown with her two-year-old son.

A woman told MPD that on Wednesday, a little before 11 a.m., she was walking down Higbee Street near Tanglewood with her two-year-old son when a man approached her, asking for money.

Higbee and Tanglewood in Midtown

The victim declined, and the suspect, Justin Roberts, asked again. She refused and continued walking when Roberts reportedly grabbed her butt. Memphis Police say Roberts grabbed her private parts, saying, “Let me rub that [expletive].”

The victim started screaming, and Roberts told her, “You must want to get shot for all that screaming.” According to reports, the victim continued to scream, and Roberts walked away.

The victim flagged down a car and called the police. Officers say they found Roberts, and the victim identified him shortly after.

The incident happened near the Skinner Center on Tanglewood. There are cameras around the building, but police have not said if they captured any video of the assault.

Employees inside the center said they weren’t aware of the attack.

Roberts, 26. was taken into custody and charged with assault and sexual battery.

Roberts has several felony arrests in his past. In 2020 he was accused of robbing a landscaper of his lawn mower and trying to hit the victim with his car. Roberts was charged with robbery and aggravated assault, and evading arrest. The assault charge was later dropped.

Roberts is being held on a $10,000 bond.