Man groped in Macy’s bathroom

A man was groped while urinating in a department store restroom in Palo Alto Wednesday morning, according to police.

The incident was reported at noon, roughly 15 minutes after it occurred in the men’s room of Macy’s at 180 El Camino Real in Stanford Shopping Center, but responding officers were unable to locate the suspect. Police said he entered the restroom and grabbed a man’s buttocks over the pants while the victim was using the urinal.

The suspect also peeped over the top of the urinal partition at the victim, but fled the scene after the victim objected to his behavior and was last seen exiting the store, according to police. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 30s with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt and brown carpenter style pants.

Police said they are investigating the possibility that this incident might be related to one that occurred on Monday, when a woman was photographed while using the bathroom at Cubberly Community Center. The Palo Alto Police Department is asking anyone with information about either incident to call (650) 329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through email at paloalto@tipnow.org or texted to (650) 383-8984.