Multiple Women Groped at Niagara Falls Target, Suspect says he was 'Looking for a Girlfriend'

Niagara Falls Police responded to Target on Niagara Falls Boulevard around 5:45pm on August 24th after reports of forcible touching.

Upon arrival, officers spoke to the victim who stated she was alone shopping inside Target. The victim had just entered the oil aisle and was on the phone with her husband when she noticed an unknown male, later identified as Paul Stout, enter the aisle and look generally suspicious due to the fact that he didn’t have a cart, handbasket or any potential purchases in his hands.

The victim stated that she was off to the side of the aisle to allow room for passing and had just put her phone away when she turned toward her cart to leave the aisle. At that time, Stout approached from behind, grabbed her buttocks with both hands, squeezed, and pulled her into his body.

The victim stated that she was alarmed and horrified of what happened and yelled out, “excuse me!” in hopes that someone would hear her.

She told police that the male said nothing to her. She grabbed her shopping cart and ran out of the aisle, calling her husband to have him stay on the phone with her. She went to the front of the store to report to management what had happened. Police were called at that time.

Officers observed surveillance video and saw Stout very casually walking up to the aisle. He then turned down the aisle. A few moments later officers observed the victim hurriedly leave the aisle and head towards the front of the store. A few moments after that, they observed Stout leave the aisle and casually slink westward through the store to the bedding section.

Officers inquired if Stout had left the store and was told by security that he had been observed walking toward Taco Bell in the same plaza. Officers searched the area but were quickly advised that Stout had returned to Target.

Officers detained Stout in the same aisle that he groped the victim and was escorted to the patrol vehicle. Stout voluntarily told officers he was, “only looking for a girlfriend” and that he was a vagrant from Michigan who had a one-way bus ticket to Niagara Falls. Stout admitted to being homeless and living off the streets.  

The victim wished to press charges and wanted a full stay away order of protection.

While reviewing video footage, security at Target determined that Stout had committed the same offense against multiple other women inside of the store, all of whom appeared alarmed but did not report it to police.

No further information is available at this time.

Multiple Woman Groped at Niagara Falls Target, Suspect says he was 'Looking for a Girlfriend'