'Serial Hugger' Tricks Women Into Giving Him Birthday Hugs: Criminal or Just Creepy?

by Chris D Posted 2012/07/11 17:00:00

Related Topics: Weird News, hugs, Hugger, Jack the Gripper, John Wayne Embracey, Hug Trick, Unwanted Hug, Giving hugs

314 votes
Read all 153 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Criminal	22 votes	7%
	Creepy	156 votes	50%
	Funny	136 votes	43%

Women in St. Louis, MO have been complaining about a man pretending to know them and giving them hugs. This is really at the low end of "bad behavior," but area women have been reporting him as "Jack the Gripper" to local police. I don't think anyone will argue that the serial hugger is engaging in bad behavior, but does it constitute a crime?

ABCNEWS.GO.COM reports:
Jack the Gripper? John Wayne Embracey? Those were two names suggested by the St. Louis weekly Riverfront Times for an unidentified man accused of tricking dozens of women into giving him hugs in grocery stores. The serial hugger is still on the loose as St. Louis County prosecutors review reports of his unwanted advances submitted by police in at least two nearby suburbs.

louis county prosecutors review reports advances submitted police nearby suburbs

+22

Add a comment above

k fleming 2012/07/11 19:03:25 (edited)

Funny

+10
Funny and creepy and a little sad.

I'm sure the guy hasn't been able to get dates and just kinda lost it a little.

>> See Replies

More polls by Chris D

jeremyperryfranz 2012/08/09 16:30:47

Creepy

A creepy guy no, but maybe with these two

reply
Tallulah 2012/07/21 01:11:59

Funny

I wouldn't care if somebody just came up to me and gave me a hug.

reply
malikasecrets 2012/07/18 19:21:41

Creepy

In the US, it is a free country, but freedom ends where another 's body begins. It is not OK to touch with out another person's permission, first.

reply
Syl 2012/07/15 16:18:58

Funny

It's both creepy and funny at the same time.

reply
Jalysa Ellis 2012/07/12 21:49:16

Funny

reply
Greg 2012/07/12 21:24:58

Funny

and a little creepy, but how could it possibly be criminal. Are women saying "no" and the guy hugging them anyway?

reply
mishka1220 2012/07/12 20:42:18

Funny

A little creepy but primarily funny!!!!

reply
Lyana 2012/07/12 20:34:55

Funny

If hugging is all he wants and all will ever do, then I say he's the least you should worry about compared to those that do more than just hugging. o_O

reply
Bulbasaurus Rex. 2012/07/12 20:18:00

Funny

+1
Meh, hugs are hugs. You have the right to say no.

reply
kobidobidog 2012/07/12 19:57:44

Funny

+1
It is sweet. Humans don't touch enough. This sounds like a thing coming from a furry mind getting humans to relax. Can you imagine humans worldwide spontaneously holding their arms in a will you hug me pose asking for a hug from whoever. That would bring us together.

reply
dragon88 2012/07/12 19:42:29 (edited)

Funny

Could it be that he's doing that because he knows about this?
http://endoftheamericandream....

reply
Shawna 2012/07/12 19:29:51

Funny

+1
I do not mind being hugged by a stranger so long as he does not have an extra firm salami in his pocket and he is not secretly lifting my wallet.

reply
Tennessee3501 2012/07/12 18:31:10

Funny

+1
It sounds like a great idea as long as the hugs do not last too long. I think this guy could make a fortune if he gave lessons to the rest of us!

reply
George Zook 2012/07/12 16:12:34

Funny

no crime here ... tricking isn't the same as forcing ...were the women really upset? ... maybe it is his birthday and he is just unstuck in time

reply
FatherLiberty 2012/07/12 15:59:22

Funny

Its funny and a little creepy and sad. But really, how do you "trick" someone in to giving you a hug? If I didnt want to hug someone they wouldnt get a hug out of me.

reply
S123 to FatherL... 2012/07/12 18:30:52

It sounds like he tricked them into thinking they know each other "Hi, how are you? We haven't seen each other for so long!"

reply
FatherL... to S123 2012/07/12 18:52:23

So these women are incredibly stupid then. I dont consider that tricking someone into a hug. Someone can walk up to be and act like they know me, but if I dont recognize them I am not going to pay them any attention. And if they tried touching me, I'd probably push them away. If she women hugged him that was their choice, no matter what he said to them. If he ran up and grabbed them, thats a whole other story, but thats no what appears to have happened.

reply
right-choice 2012/07/12 14:44:45

Funny

Sounds odd, but sometimes people even if you don't know them need a hug, even if the guy donn't know it at the time. Then again he is gaining a hug (not forceing it from them), almost like holding misletoe over someone head on New Years to get a kiss.

reply
Susanne the Doodle 2012/07/12 14:15:44

Funny

Creepy yes
but funny that people react to it like its a crime against nature

he was probably one of those mental kids who would run up to random people and hug em

you know what I mean ;)

reply
ALofRI 2012/07/12 13:22:04

Funny

HEY!, That's MY line!

reply
sodabox 2012/07/12 13:20:21

Funny

+1
Wish I had thought of that before I got married... XD

reply
Jensenmk 2012/07/12 12:57:34

Creepy

+1
Sounds like a sexual predator in the making.

reply
tori 2012/07/12 12:19:24

Funny

+2
He's lonely! He just needs a hug. No one reported that he felt them up as he hugged them...

reply
Gaven Small 2012/07/12 11:59:59

Funny

+1
if you give him a hug its your own damn fault.

reply
Leena 2012/07/12 11:51:07

Funny

I think that people today don't have enough contact with others. as far as I can tell with the information presented, theres no groping, no ass gripping, nothing like that. Its just a hug. Maybe a hug between two strangers, but what does that matter?

reply
Caramel 2012/07/12 11:39:29

Creepy

+1

reply
Sintwa 2012/07/12 10:37:00

Funny

Unfortunatly I'm not in America to have this happen, but if he comes to the UK I'm happy to get a free hug :p

reply
MissJo 2012/07/12 10:25:20

Creepy

But, if he has consent from the ladies I guess there isn't too much harm. Maybe he just really likes hugs?

He should go around with a free hugs sign, he'd probably get more then...

reply
DANNY59 2012/07/12 09:56:00

Funny

+1
Hugging is a great way to connect to another persons energy. I don't agree with lying to get a hug or anything else for that matter. If we all hugged instead of hate, this world would be a much happier place to live.

reply
dale.wheatley2 2012/07/12 09:17:30

Criminal

+1
thata harrassment

reply
right-c... to dale.wh... 2012/07/12 14:40:46

wrong, He did not force it on them, (tricked maybe) In the end it was there choice for the Hug.

reply
whateverbabynevermind 2012/07/12 08:04:08

Funny

How can you "trick" someone into giving you a hug? If you let him hug you then he isn't doing anything wrong, if you try to make him stop and he hugs you anyway that's assault and he can be arrested!

reply
XI~Fell~Down~A~RabbitholeX 2012/07/12 08:01:11

Funny

+1
Someone just isn't hugged enough. But instead of creeping people out, stand on the sidewalk with a free-hugs sign! :)

reply
♡Short Sparkley Ginger♡ 2012/07/12 07:10:27

Creepy

But they did allow him to in the first place?

reply
~HopelessRomanticM17~ 2012/07/12 07:06:00

Creepy

I highly doubt he forces them to embrace him in a hug...I think it would only be criminal if he like...sexually harassed them as he hugged them or something.

reply
strange_armour 2012/07/12 06:39:56

Creepy

+1
Blokes who like to hug all the time are so bloody foppish. I often want to shove them into fast-moving traffic.

reply
Michelle 2012/07/12 06:38:11

Funny

+2
If it's a running prank done for jokes, it's hilarious. If not... really creepy.

reply
Ƹyeless LillyAnn 2012/07/12 06:23:50

Funny

idk wat to say it not true for a hug i think its funny R)

reply
Gene_In_Kabul 2012/07/12 06:11:12

Funny

+1
I answered funny...but it all depends upon the intent. Is he just pranking, or is he getting some sexual sexual satisfaction? Because he needs to pay them for that.

reply
Vitalani 2012/07/12 06:03:08

Funny

+1
I think it's kind of cute...IF he genuinely JUST enjoys hugging, in a non-sexual manner.
These women didn't HAVE to hug him, it's their fault they were to stupid to fall for it.

reply