43-year-old Michael Barker, a security guard, was overly aggressive with a female co-worker at Grand Hyatt Hotel in the early hours of July 24th. In May, she advised officers that Barker had been sending her sexual messages on Instagram, asking her if he could “hit,” implying sexual intercourse. After she discouraged his behavior, he stated he was “just kidding.” The chat shows Barker talking about returning to work, stating, “I didn’t squeeze your booty like I said I would, so don’t be like that.” She never condoned the messages. Then, on July 24th, she said they were having a normal conversation at work, and Barker started to change the subject to something sexual before squeezing her buttocks, asking if he could “hit it.” She expressed disinterest, and then Barker put his arm around her head, not letting her go, acting like he was trying to kiss her. She told him he was messing her hair up and to let her go, then Barker allegedly grabbed her vaginal area. She pulled away from him, and he drove away from the area. Barker spoke with officers and stated he had been sexual with her in messages, admitting that he grabbed her buttocks but not her vaginal area because he “isn’t into black girls.” The incident was captured on camera, and Barker was taken into custody for two counts of sexual battery on December 14th.
Michael Barker charged with Sexual Battery after groping coworker, asks multiple times to “hit it”
