LONDON, KY—Local residents were appalled at what they witnessed at a local grocer just before a man was arrested.
In a sickening display of wanton hedonism, area resident Charles "Chuck" Sousa, 41, was seen by at least a dozen witnesses shamelessly gawking at, and even touching several pieces of fruit at a Kroger grocery store. Indeed, security footage reveals that the man, who was wearing a baseball hat, shorts, and a brown t-shirt at the time, entered the store, and casually made his way toward the fruit section, where he then methodically caressed and groped multiple fruits before store security was able to subdue him.
Witnesses found the incident sickening and horrifying. "I couldn't believe what he was doing to those poor fruits," commented Sarah Tracy, 37, who was at the store at the time. "I'm so glad I didn't bring my kids with me that morning!"
Victoria Valdez, 29, was also disturbed by the event. "I mean, he didn't even seem to care that he was in public. He wasn't like, getting off on the fact that we were watching, and I think people should be able to do what they want in their own homes, but woah, like, we shouldn't have to see that kind of thing just looking for some green beans."
Although store managers reported that no fruits were injured during the incident, they expressed concern after Sousa had been removed from the store. "We took a close inventory, and even though there's no visible damage, we can't know the real impact that this kind of uninvited touching has on a barely ripe fruit. I mean, some of these may never recover," said manager Natalia Barron, 51. "I knew a pear once who got all felt up, and then just placed right back on the pile as if it were nothing. For a long time after that, it struggled with the thought that no one would ever want to purchase it. Poor thing."
Store managers insist that they are taking extra precautions by keeping security close by the fruit stands for the next several weeks, and they are offering free counseling to all of the witnesses and employees who were present while Mr. Sousa was behaving that way.
Mr. Sousa is expected to appear in court tomorrow at 10:15 a.m., and may face up to 5 years in prison, although it is more common to accept victim impact counseling and sensitivity training.
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