Video shared online appears to show a man attacking a woman in a Miami-Dade County Walmart and others in the store tackling him to the ground last Sunday.
According to an arrest report cited by Local 10 News, the attack happened around 9:30 p.m. March 20 at 3200 NW 79th St. Brendan (or Bredan) Jarmal Harvey, a 28-year-old Miami Gardens man, was arrested and accused of attempted rape, said the Miami Herald.
While a woman was shopping in the store Harvey came up behind her, pulled up her dress and grabbed her butt, according to the outlet. When she turned around, he pushed her to the ground and she screamed for help as he “ripped off her underwear while grabbing her thighs and vagina,” according an arrest affidavit for Harvey cited by the Herald.
Video shared by the Twitter account OnlyInDade showed another shopper who witnessed the attack attempt to pull Harvey off the woman and other shoppers also came to help. This is confirmed in the police report.
Harvey faces charges of attempted sexual battery. He invoked his right not to speak without an attorney present, said the affidavit. His public defender declined to comment, said the Herald.
During a bond court appearance Monday, Harvey’s bond was set at $50,000 and he was ordered to stay away from the victim and the 79th Street Walmart.
“The safety of our associates and customers is among our top priorities,” Walmart said in a statement Tuesday. “We’re very disturbed to see something like this in our store and are grateful to those who intervened to stop the alleged attack and detain this man until police arrived. All other questions should be sent to local law enforcement.”
Investigators believe that there may be additional victims. Anyone with potential information is urged to contact the Miami-Dade Sex Crimes Investigation Unit at 305-715-3300.
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