Man, 41, banned from park for accosting woman
A local man was given probation and banned from Riverfront Park for accosting a female motorist there last month.
The suspect, Roy D. Tate, 41, entered a guilty plea Tuesday before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross to the reduced charge of simple assault. He was originally charged with sexual battery. As terms of his plea agreement, Tate will be on supervised probation for one year and must attend anger management courses. He must also perform 24 hours public service and may not be on the Riverfront Park grounds while he serves his probation.
The incident which prompted the sentence happened last month as a woman was having car problems inside the park, which is located below Westwood Bridge on Morrison Street.
According to the victim, Tate, who was at the park in his own vehicle, got out and tried to fix her car for her; however, he was unsuccessful. It was at that point the woman said Tate began touching her and tried to pull her to him. The woman retreated into her car and locked her doors, prompting the suspect to knock on her window in an attempt to have her roll down her window.
The woman then called a relative on her cell phone. The suspect left about the time the victim’s relative arrived at the park.