Pierce County man accused of assaulting woman at Walmart parking lot, charges say
A 74-year-old man is accused of trying to force himself on a woman and attempting to kidnap two others the same day in South Hill.
Malkiat Singh has been charged with fourth-degree assault, according to Pierce County District Court records. Singh was arrested on Feb. 5 following the incidents.
Records show that Singh appeared for a hearing for the assault charge on Monday. Pierce County Judge Claire Sussman set his bail at $10,000. He has since posted bond.
Pierce County deputies were dispatched that day to investigate an alleged assault that took place in the Walmart parking lot in the 16500 block of Meridian East. A woman reported that she was leaving the store and walking to her car when she noticed a man behind her, according to charging documents.
The woman said that at first she brushed it off and thought the man had parked nearby. While she was loading groceries into her car, the man approached her and allegedly tried to give her an aggressive hug, prosecutors wrote. The woman tried to pull away, but he kept grabbing her arms to pull her closer.
The man allegedly forcibly kissed her lips several times as she was turning away. He allegedly said things like, “You’re so pretty,” and, “I love you.” The man at one point said his name was “Singh.” When he let her go, he allegedly asked for the woman’s hand and pointed to his groin, prosecutors wrote.
The woman got into her car to drive away as she called 911, prosecutors wrote. Deputies obtained surveillance video from inside the store, which showed Singh’s face.
Prosecutors wrote there were reports of an attempted kidnapping of two women on the same day in the area where the alleged assault took place. The description of the attempted kidnapper matched the man who assaulted the woman in the parking lot. Deputies located Singh, and he was identified as the suspect in both incidents.
Singh is a primary suspect in two other incidents involving unwanted sexual touching and physical advances towards women. The investigation is ongoing, prosecutors wrote.
