PINE TWP, Mercer County — A Grove City man is charged with unlawful restraint of a minor and simple assault after he allegedly pulled a 9-year-old boy into a restroom stall in Walmart. Shawn M. Miller, 27, was arrested Friday by state police in Mercer following the incident Thursday in the Walmart on West Main Street.

State police said Miller watched a father and his two young boys enter the store’s restroom about 4:30 p.m. Police said Miller waited outside the restroom until the father exited with his 6-year-old son. Miller then entered the restroom where the 9-year-old boy was still washing his hands.

Miller allegedly grabbed the boy by the waist and pulled him into a stall and shut the door. The boy was able to free himself and leave the stall, but he was again grabbed by the suspect, police said. When the boy began screaming for his father, Miller let him go, police said.

The suspect fled through the front entrance and ran on foot to the wooded area behind the store.

He was able to elude a search by state police and Grove City police, but was later identified and arrested Friday morning.