Groton — The manager of a Groton convenience store was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault Thursday after a customer said he groped her. 

Khalid Malik, 51, of 245 Benham Road, Apt. 7, was arrested Thursday in connection with the alleged assault last month.

The victim, 28, called police at 2:43 p.m. on Dec. 24, saying she’d stopped at Avery Market at 2 Shennecossett Road, when an older man behind the counter went to hug her, then grabbed her breast.

She told police she’d had an issue the previous month with the same person “smacking” her butt.

“She said she told him last month she did not like that,” an officer wrote in an arrest warrant application. “The victim did not wish to give a written statement at this time and wanted me to review the video at the store. ... It was visible the victim was upset as she was pacing, had rambling speech and was shaking.”

The officer then called the store manager, the warrant application said.

The store manager told the officer he didn’t touch the customer inappropriately and said that they have a “friendly relationship,” the warrant application said.

The store video shows the two exchange a handshake and hug at the register, then the man bat the woman’s breast as she pulls away, the warrant application said.

The victim asked for time to think about filing a complaint, then gave police a statement on Dec. 30.

She told police she’d been avoiding Avery Market and going to Cumberland Farms since the first alleged incident, but went to Avery Market on Dec. 24 because her friend needed money for diapers, lives nearby and they’d agreed to meet there, the warrant application said. 

d.straszheim@theday,com

Twitter: @DStraszheim