Kirbyville Police arrest man wanted for assaulting a woman at a local store

Police in Kirbyville say the investigation of an incident that occurred there earlier this month has resulted in a warrant being issued for a suspect. Officers say it all begin when a local woman exited the Family Dollar Store at 1115 South Margaret Ave in Kirbyville on January 6, 2024, at approximately 8 pm when a Hispanic man approached her. According to the Probable Cause Affidavit, the man, identified as Eliborio Reyes, 63, from Kirbyville, approached the woman and offered to help carry the bags she purchased. The woman thanked the man for the offer but refused help. She continued to her vehicle and began loading the items into her car. As she turned around, she found the man standing behind her, taking items and trying to load them into the vehicle. In her statement, the woman thanked him again and attempted to open the driver's side door, but Reyes stood before the door, preventing her from entering the vehicle. She stated that Reyes began telling her that he had watched her in the store and made inappropriate comments about her body. Reyes then allegedly began touching the woman on her breasts and face several times while he was talking. The woman stated she was in a state of shock, and her only thought was to continue trying to gain access to the vehicle while trying not to anger the man. She was able to open the door and sit down, but Reyes prevented her from closing the door. Officers say Reyes continued to touch her, and began kissing the woman on the neck and mouth.  At one point during the assault, an employee came outside to return a shopping cart, and the woman hoped they would see what was going on and intervene. The woman stated she was afraid to call out to the employee for fear of making Reyes angry. At that point, she was able to close the door and drive away. The woman and her husband contacted the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, where she described the man. Kirbyville Police Officer Richard Going spoke with the store manager, Cammie Stark, who identified the man from the description as a regular customer and advised police that the man resided in the trailer park behind Magnolia Park. Officer Going viewed the store videotape from the incident and found the suspect matching the description. Officer Going contacted the trailer park and ascertained that the man lived at lot number 21. Going approached the trailer and found the suspect matching the description of the assailant from the woman's statement and matching the video. Officer Going questioned Reyes about the incident, but the man claimed he was only helping the woman put away her bags and denied touching the woman. An arrest warrant was issued, and Reyes was arrested on January 21 on the charge of Indecent Assault – Fondling, which is a misdemeanor assault. Reyes was arraigned on a $7,500 bail and he has since been released from jail after making arrangements to post bail. Reyes was also served with a protective order for the woman.