Altamonte Springs Police Seek Man Who Grabbed Woman at Ulta Store

A woman shopping at the Ulta Beauty near Crane's Roost Park in Altamonte Springs was grabbed from behind by an unknown man during the midday Easter rush, and police are now pursuing the suspect through a combination of store surveillance footage and social media posts that circulated in community Facebook groups before investigators had even finished their initial report.

Altamonte Springs Police Department was notified of the incident around 12:30 p.m. on April 5 and opened the case as a sexual battery and sexual assault investigation. The victim, whose identity has not been released under standard protocol for such cases, told investigators she was inside the store when the man approached her from behind and grabbed her.

The case reached public attention quickly after residents began posting about the incident in local Facebook groups, sharing accounts and video footage. Rather than waiting on traditional channels, investigators moved to review that social media activity alongside in-store surveillance, treating the online discussion as an active source of potential identifying information.

The Ulta sits in one of Altamonte Springs' busiest retail corridors, steps from Crane's Roost Park, a destination that draws families and visitors on ordinary weekends and larger crowds on holidays. Easter Sunday foot traffic in the surrounding shopping plaza amplified concern among residents who came across the community posts before a formal police confirmation was issued. That the alleged assault happened midday, in a well-trafficked store during a peak holiday, made the incident particularly unsettling to shoppers and retail workers in the area.

As of Monday, no arrest had been made and no suspect had been publicly named. Should investigators identify the man and prosecutors file charges, the offenses could range from misdemeanor to felony sexual battery depending on what the evidence supports.

Altamonte Springs police are asking anyone who was at the Ulta or the nearby shopping plaza on the afternoon of April 5 to come forward. Those holding photos or video that could help identify the suspect are urged to preserve that footage and contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department's non-emergency line. Investigators say they will continue canvassing for witnesses and coordinating with businesses in the area to gather any remaining surveillance that places the suspect at the scene.