A 57-year-old Walmart manager was jailed recently after one of his employees claimed he placed his hands on her hips and thrusted his groin against her buttocks while the two were alone in an office.
The upset victim, who already had left the store at 9570 S. Hwy. 200, told deputies that she told Dennis Anthony Ferreira to “never do that again.” She said she wanted to press charges and signed a handwritten statement, a sheriff’s office report states.
Deputies viewed a surveillance video that showed the victim in the cash office by herself when Ferreira entered the room. Deputies observed him place both hands on the victim’s buttocks “with his groin area extremely close” to her. The video also showed the victim step away and turn toward Ferreira after he rubbed her right buttocks, the report says.
Deputies said it appeared as if the victim said something to Ferreira and turned back around. He then can be seen reaching out and touching the victim’s hair, the report says.
Deputies responded to Ferreira’s residence at 10879 S.W. 83rd Ave. in Ocala and spoke with him at the front door. After being read his rights, Ferreira said he entered the cash office and gave the victim a “hug from behind.” He said he placed his arm over her shoulder and also claimed that employees at the Walmart store frequently give each other hugs. He also said it wasn’t the first time he had hugged the victim and he believes she was being “spiteful” toward him because he became a manager during his 90-day probationary period, the report says.
Ferreira was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with battery. He was released on $1,000 bond and his next court date hasn’t yet been set.