Man from Republic Arrested, Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Neighbor

Republic Police are holding a man in custody who allegedly sexually assaulted his neighbor after a brief meeting while walking dogs.

Officers say 41-year-old Christopher Harrison met the woman outside of the apartment complex the two both live at.

They had a short conversation in which the victim told him, “my door is always open.”

Harrison asked which apartment she lived in, and showed up at her door within an hour.

She allowed him into the unit, at which point investigators say he began asking intimate questions and then kissed her.

It was at this point the victim told Harrison she was in a relationship and began distancing herself. She then said he began forcing himself on her, groping her and sexually exposing himself.

He was arrested on May 8th, and admitted to hugging and kissing the victim, but said nothing else occurred.

During the investigation, officers discovered Harrison had previously been convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action, and was released on parole in April of this year.

Authorities also got a statement from another woman at the apartment complex that he had made inappropriate and unwanted advances towards her as well.