Man touched woman inappropriately while at convenience store

SOPHIA, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man is behind bars after he reached and touched a woman inappropriately while in line at a convenience store.

On Sunday, August 11, 2024, around 7:41 PM, the Raleigh County Emergency Operations Center received a call for service regarding a sexual harassment incident at 405 Robert C Byrd Drive, Sophia, West Virginia (Go-Mart). While on the way, dispatch informed police that the victim had left the scene for her safety and gone to her friend’s place in Sophia, WV. The Trooper then proceeded to that address to talk with the victim.

Upon arrival, the victim explained that while at Go-Mart, she was in line at the checkout when a light-skinned black male, later identified as Barrett Smith, approached her aggressively. While she waited, Smith reached under her case of beer and touched her inappropriately. The victim noted that Smith appeared to be intoxicated during the incident.

The victim expressed that the encounter made her feel extremely uncomfortable, intimidated, and fearful for her safety. This Trooper observed that she was visibly shaken by what happened. After speaking with her, the Trooper went to Go-Mart to review the CCTV footage. The surveillance showed the suspect approaching the victim quickly and forcefully touching her beneath the case of beer. The Go-Mart store manager who witnessed the incident confirmed that the suspect acted aggressively and that the victim looked very uncomfortable.

On August 17, 2024, this Trooper located Barrett Smith and asked if he would discuss the investigation. The suspect was defensive and uncooperative during the interaction, displaying aggressive behavior. As a result, Barrett Smith was arrested for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, with the crime occurring in Raleigh County , West Virginia. His bond is set at 20,000 dollars.