Sheboygan man accused of groping woman, running naked

Ryan Gruenke



SHEBOYGAN (WITI) -- 29-year-old Ryan Gruenke of Sheboygan faces a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior for alleged behavior that took place in on Wednesday, August 28th.

The criminal complaint in Gruenke's case indicates on Aug. 28th a man wearing nothing but a Speedo bathing suit approached her and "asked her if her name was Christine at which point she said no." The complaint indicates "the man then reached out and grabbed her left breast" and ran away laughing. A short time later, the complaint indicates the same man was seen running down a grassy hill completely naked. Multiple police squads responded to the area to search for the suspect, but they were not successful.

The complaint indicates a detective investigating this case reviewed a number of similar incidents in the area and identified Gruenke as a potential suspect. That's in part because he has an extensive history of suspicious activity including a previous conviction for lewd and lascivious behavior in 2010.

When the detective when to talk with Gruenke, he initially denied groping the woman's breast. But according to the complaint, he "then said it was possible."

The complaint also says Gruenke told police "he has a problem and can't stop, comparing it to an addiction. He stated he gets a strange feeling inside and then he goes naked in public. He admitted to being naked in Sheboygan in public 30 to 35 times in 2013.

If convicted, Gruenke faces up nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines. He's due back in court on October 2nd.

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