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https://www.fox19.com/2026/06/03/ar...lleged-assault-transgender-woman-cedar-point/
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - The man accused of a disturbing assault at Cedar Point was arraigned on Wednesday morning.
Sandusky police said Marquez Williams approached a transgender woman from behind on the midway on May 25 and grabbed her and pulled down her clothing.
His bond was set at $8,000 at his arraignment in Sandusky Municipal Court at 9 a.m.
The court also added a theft charge, but did not clarify if it was connected to this case.
The public indecency charge was also dropped.
Marquez Williams
Marquez Williams(Julia Thyret | (Source: Erie County Jail))
Police said the woman’s private parts were exposed to a crowd that included young children.
April Dempster, a friend of the victim, said the group was celebrating her birthday at the park.
“We were there enjoying my birthday vacation because I go there every year for my birthday to have fun and I bring all my friends,” Dempster said.
The group had just finished riding Top Thrill 2 around 8:30 p.m. and was heading toward the exit when the assault happened.
“As we were heading up the midway, some guy ran by us and just grabbed my friend’s skirt from behind and her underwear and yanked it all the way down to her ankles,” Dempster said.
Dempster said she immediately chased the suspect after realizing what had happened.
“As soon as I had realized what had happened, it took me a second to register what had just happened to my friend, yes, I took off running immediately after this person,” she said.
She said she ran from the midway to the front gate, where she spotted the suspect and flagged down a security guard.
“Security walks up to me, actually ran up to me and started talking to me, and after I told them what happened, he radioed security, and the guy was being chased through the entire parking lot,” Dempster said.
Williams then allegedly ran through the packed parking lot while being chased by police before officers deployed a taser to stop him.
“He led them on a pretty big chase through the whole parking lot. He was weaving through all the cars, and so the cops in their cars couldn’t really get to him,” Dempster said.
Dempster said the assault happened during the victim’s first visit to Cedar Point.
“I was so angry that my friend had been violated, and this was her first time going out to the park. This was her first time at Cedar Point ever, and I was so angry because I had been talking to all my friends about how this is one of the safest, nicest places you can go to,” Dempster said.
She said the victim was shaken by the incident.
“They were pretty rattled the first couple of days after it happened; they didn’t even want to go back to Cedar Point. They didn’t want to go outside. They didn’t want to go have fun anymore, and we were there for the whole week,” Dempster said.
The group stayed at the park through Friday.
Dempster said the victim eventually returned to the park but remained on edge.
“She is doing a lot better now. She’s home, and she has her support group with her,” Dempster said.
Dempster said the assault happened in a crowded area near Kiddie Kingdom.
“We were surrounded by hundreds of people, and you don’t expect somebody to come up and just yank your clothes off,” she said. “There are children at this park.”
She said the group had not seen the suspect earlier in the day.
“We were out having a great day, and there was no reason for anyone to put their hands on anyone,” Dempster said.
Williams faces charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstructing official business and now theft.
He was treated at a local hospital and booked into the Erie County Jail.
Cedar Point confirmed on Wednesday that he was also banned from all Six Flags parks for life.