WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Winter Haven police have arrested a man after they say he was approaching women at stores claiming to a be a doctor and in one case, kissing a woman.
Mario Augusto Medina, 67, has been charged with aggravated stalking and abuse of a disabled adult in the June 2. incident.
Recommended Videos
Police said Medina was caught on store surveillance video at the Walmart on Cypress Gardens Boulevard approaching three separate women shopping.
One woman, a 58-year-old with mobility issues and was utilizing a motorized cart to shop, was stalked by Medina and followed her until no other customers were in the vicinity, according to police.
Medina then approached the victim claiming to be a cardiologist that treated her at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He then complimented her on how beautiful she looked and said she looked like his deceased wife, police said.
Police said Medina tried to make the victim go out to dinner with him, but she declined. The victim then reached to grab an item from the shelf when Medina grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her against her will, according to police.
Medina was identified on Friday by a tip from the store surveillance footage on the Winter Haven Police Department's Facebook page.
He was booked into the Polk County jail.