15-year-old girl sexually harassed at Big Fashion Glilot mall

A 15-year-old girl's outing with friends at the Big Fashion Glilot mall resulted in an indecent assault and a violent confrontation with security guards and police. A 39-year-old resident of Kiryat Ata, employed at a clothing store within the mall, is accused of targeting the girl as he passed by. An indictment has been filed against him at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred during the afternoon while the girl was leaning on a safety railing on the mall's second floor. The defendant passed by her and committed an indecent act:

"Struck her buttocks with his hand for the purpose of sexual arousal, humiliation, or gratification, without her consent."

Following the incident, the girl reported the assault to mall security. The shift supervisor and other guards reviewed security footage, which allowed them to identify and track the suspect.

When security personnel attempted to detain him, the situation escalated. The prosecution alleges that the defendant grabbed a glass bottle from a nearby restaurant and threatened to throw it at the guards. As he attempted to flee, he pushed and struck one of the guards and punched the shift supervisor in the neck.

Police officers called to the scene also faced resistance; the defendant pushed one of the officers with his shoulder in another attempt to escape. The prosecution stated that "only the use of force by the police officers led to the arrest of the defendant." Even after being taken to the police station, the suspect attempted to run toward the entrance gate, requiring further force to be restrained.

The 39-year-old is charged with indecent assault, simple assault, assaulting a police officer in the line of duty, and obstructing a police officer in the line of duty.