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Columbus Man Arrested For Touching Woman At Grocery Store

Last updated on Wednesday, December 7, 2011

(COLUMBUS)(REPUBLICAN) - A man accused of inappropriately touching a woman outside a Columbus grocery store also is suspected in other incidents on the city’s north side.

Aaron Michael Bemrose, 28, of Columbus, was arrested Monday on a preliminary charge of sexual battery, a Class D felony.

Bemrose allegedly touched a woman inappropriately Monday morning in the Kroger parking lot and drove away in a vehicle that matched the description in the other incidents.

He has admitted to Monday's incident and to two incidents of indecent exposure, one at Ivy Tech on Nov. 3 and one at the Warsh House on Nov. 4, Columbus Police Lt. Joe Richardson said.

However, he has not been charged yet in the other incidents. Prosecutors will review the cases to determine formal charges, Richardson said.

In early November, police were searching for a man they say was approaching women in his vehicle on the north side after receiving reports that the man slowed his car next to the women and called them over.

Police increased patrols in the area, and Columbus Police Patrolman Joshua Burnworth stopped Bemrose's car during that time for a traffic infraction.

Bemrose's vehicle, a gold passenger car, matches the description of the vehicle in the earlier incidents, although he has not been connected to all of them, Richardson said.
After Monday's incident in the Kroger parking lot, Columbus Police Detective Tom Foust took an image of the suspect from the store's security cameras, and he and Burnworth matched it to Bemrose's driver's license photo.

Bemrose is being held in Bartholomew County Jail on $10,000 bond or 10 percent cash.
Anyone with information on other incidents has been asked to contact Columbus Police Department at 376-2600.

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