The man said he went into the ladies room by mistake and panicked when the 6-year-old girl screamed.

CLEARWATER – Clearwater police have charged an 18-year-old Ocala area man with battery in connection with a Friday (Feb. 5) night incident at a mall restroom.

Ricky Blake Thompson of Umatilla was identified from a tip as the man from the surveillance photos from inside Macy’s near the lower-level restrooms at Countryside Mall, police said. Detectives said they contacted him Monday (Feb. 8) and he came to the station voluntarily. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

Police said Thompson told them he was at Macy’s on Friday night to pick up his son from his estranged wife. After the two women and the child arrived, he told detectives he had to use the restroom. He said he mistakenly went into the women’s restroom and on the way out, the 6-year-old girl saw him from inside her partially open stall and screamed. He said he panicked and tried to put his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming. During that process, he said, she fell to the floor.

Clearwater Police detectives continue their investigation into the case. Any decision on additional charges will come from the Pasco-Pinellas State Attorney’s Office.

For information about the Clearwater police, go to clearwaterpolice.org.

Clearwater | Clearwater Police | Countryside Mall | Macy’s | Crime | TB Reporter

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