Mother Says 5-Year-Old Daughter Groped In Dept. Store

ATLANTA -- Someone groped a 5-year-old girl at the Ross Department Store off of Howell Mill in Atlanta, according to the child's mother. The two were shopping at the time of the incident.

"I was looking at some kid shoes and my daughter was looking at some toys," Claressia Williams said.

Williams told Channel 2's Erica Byfield that she saw a man with a large backpack walking in their direction, but did not think much about it.

"I really did not pay him any attention because we're in the store, we are comfortable, we are shopping," said Williams.

Next, Williams said she heard a man say "hello" and her 5-year-old daughter reply. That is when she tued around.

"He was just holding her and squeezing her butt at the same time," she said.

Williams said she didn't know what to think and started yelling.

"I was like, 'Put my daughter down,'" said Williams as the man held her daughter in his arms.

Williams said the man eventually put her daughter down and ran when she threatened to call the police. Williams chased after the man, but did not catch up with him. A Ross Store Manager confirmed to Byfield that store surveillance cameras caught the assault on camera.

"I just want this guy to be caught. I don't want him to get away with this," Williams said.