Cedar Point attack on transgender woman leads to charges for Fremont man

SANDUSKY, Ohio — An 18-year-old Fremont man faces four misdemeanor charges after Sandusky police say he pulled down a woman’s skirt and underwear at Cedar Point on Tuesday, exposing her in front of bystanders who included children.

Marquez D. Williams was charged May 27 in Sandusky Municipal Court with public indecency, persistent disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and resisting arrest, court records show.

Officers from the Sandusky Police Department were sent to Cedar Point shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on an assault report and were told the suspect had fled on foot into the parking lot, the report states.

The man approached a transgender woman from behind, grabbed her skirt and underwear and pulled them down, the report states. Several people in the area, including children, saw the woman exposed.

The woman’s friend chased the man toward the front gate, according to the report. The woman told a security officer what had happened as the man left the park and ran into the parking lot.

When the man ignored repeated commands to stop, an officer warned him and then deployed a stun gun, dropping him to the ground, according to the report. The man then became aggressive with officers, and additional units were called to the scene. Officers called for an ambulance afterward.

The woman told officers she believes the man targeted her because she is transgender, according to the report.

Ohio’s hate-crime statute, known as ethnic intimidation, applies only to certain offenses committed because of a victim’s race, color, religion or national origin. It does not cover gender identity or sexual orientation, so it was not available as an additional charge in this case.

Williams was taken to the Erie County Jail and has since been released. Court records list bonds of $250, $250 and $300 across the cases. He has not entered a plea, and his arraignment is set for June 3 at 9 a.m. in Sandusky Municipal Court.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. The case was first reported by the Sandusky Register.