WARNING: Mom says man grabbed her in busy Buckhead shopping center

ATLANTA — A local mother is warning others to be aware of their surroundings after she says a stranger on a scooter forced himself against her.

Alyssa Ozer told Channel 2's Rikki Klaus the man grabbed her hips from behind when she was buckling her 11-month-old daughter into her stroller.

The alleged assault happened in broad daylight outside a Carter's children store at the Peachtree Battle shopping center in Buckhead.

Ozer agreed to sit down with Channel 2 Action News to share her story Wednesday. She said the incident was so unexpected that she was confused at first.

"Something like that had never happened to me before. I don't think anybody expect that to happen," she said.

Ozer said she was scared for her daughter and quickly decided to take action.

"I screamed after him, and he was scooting away on a Bird scooter. He heard me scream at him. He turned around, looked at me and then kept going," she told Klaus.

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Channel 2 Action News requested an Atlanta police report, which outlined how Ozer went into the store and asked an employee to call security.

The mother said two guards were there within minutes and police came shortly after.

Channel 2 Action News obtained the mugshot of the suspect Michael Turner, who police said is homeless and faces a charge of sexual battery.

“I just hope that he learns his lesson and that he’ll get whatever help he needs. Clearly that’s not something that was a healthy person would do," Ozer said.

Ozer also hopes speaking up makes a difference for others.

“I hope that by notifying the authorities really quickly, I was able to stop him from maybe doing that to somebody else or worse.”

Cox Media Group