'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
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	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

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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.

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More polls by Chris D

yuddandi siva Subramanyam 2012/07/11 23:38:02

Funny

+1
it is very lenient issue.

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Alexandria 2012/07/11 23:37:53

Creepy

+1
As long as he's not going up underneath women's clothes then, it's not criminal but, giving a hug when it's not wanted that's creepy :/

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mandyinabox 2012/07/11 23:22:05 (edited)

Creepy

+1
there are some possible contributing factors...

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Nintaku 2012/07/11 23:01:23

Funny

+1
Come on people who voted criminal.
It would be criminal if I walked up, said it was my birthday, and then mid-hug shoved two fingers up your Vag or anus.
This guy is just desperate for attention.

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Angelus 2012/07/11 22:36:31

Funny

+1
I think it's pretty funny lol

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Hockey 40 2012/07/11 22:28:36 (edited)

Criminal

Criminal, unwanted physical contact with a woman.The first crime took place in a parking at Chesterfield Mall around 2:15 pm on May 2012. According to Chesterfield Police the "man told the women she is beautiful and can I hug you" what is next the rape! The man needs serious professional help,he will end up in jail!

Typical St.louis,Mo. I need a hug!

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Nintaku to Hockey 40 2012/07/12 12:17:35

And--this is why women should be taught to defend themselves since it is not our jobs to doit for them.

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Hockey 40 to Nintaku 2012/07/12 13:57:11

True!

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KrSpo 2012/07/11 22:27:09

Creepy

bu if he doesn't do anything besides the hug, women shouldn't get all weird about it

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Donnie 2012/07/11 21:40:55

Funny

it would be more creepy if it wasn't for basically people going i hugged someone i thought was someone else boo hoo hoo.

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wpsark_BN_0 2012/07/11 21:24:22

Creepy

but he could just be a prankster...have seen a video of a guy pranking people in malls, come up to a stranger and try to hold their hand. It's funny stuff as long as it's innocent.

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lil crazy 2012/07/11 21:22:06

Funny

They willingly hugged him so how could it be criminal and everyone could use a hug now and again as long as he wasn't groping or grabbing them inappropriately.

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Professor Wizard 2012/07/11 21:13:11

Creepy

+2
Yup Creepy...

So really.... is serial hugging a crime?

He would make a good TSA Agent - - if he isn't already!

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Sinister Ken Doll™ 2012/07/11 21:12:38

Creepy

+2

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Skye 2012/07/11 21:11:12

Creepy

Uhm... Creepy...

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Beat Magnum True Hero 2012/07/11 21:10:11

Criminal

When it's unwanted, it's harassment.

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Of Thee... to Beat Ma... 2012/07/11 22:15:03

+1
its only criminal if they openly refuse and he hugs them anyway.

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KeeganTheAwesome 2012/07/11 21:00:01 (edited)

Funny

+3
Creepy also, but unless he was groping them in the process, I wouldn't call it criminal.

And somewhat hilarious once you think about what makes him want to hug people.

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spencerc143 2012/07/11 20:56:37

Creepy

You never know what someone will do with a hug.

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hannah 2012/07/11 20:55:17

Funny

+1
aw come on i find it cute. just as long as he isnt touching their ass or anything. i mean whats wrong with a hug? i looovvveee hugs. XD

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TasselLady 2012/07/11 20:41:50

Creepy

Makes you wonder what other motives he has.

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Flyaway 2012/07/11 20:41:28

Funny

+1
As long as their not killing anyone...
He must be lonely.

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superangrymonkey 2012/07/11 20:40:46

Creepy

+2
And hilarious.

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TheCouchF*cker 2012/07/11 20:39:34

Creepy

+3
It could probably count as harassment or even assault in some of the more loosely-defined states, but it sounds like the guy needs to see a shrink more than he needs locked up.

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superan... to TheCouc... 2012/07/11 20:41:56

lol

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Ben 2012/07/11 20:36:52

Creepy

+2
Dude in the picture needs to pull his pants up.

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Man_Bear_Pig 2012/07/11 20:33:22

Funny

+3
Haha! Omg it's St. Louis. The most dangerous city in America. They should count themselves lucky that all he did was try to hug them.

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Selketskiss 2012/07/11 20:25:03

Funny

+2
Funny and a tad creepy..maybe he is really sad and needs some hugs...LOL

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Bulanova (Team Hargitay) 2012/07/11 20:10:55

Creepy

+2
Provided there's no fondling going on, I wouldn't say it's criminal, but I certainly wonder about the mindset of the individual. I think he's getting off less on the hugs and more on the manipulation seeing just how much he can get away with by lying. Several years ago before the advent of some of our new technology, I recall reading of a case where a man was convicted of rape by calling up women, pretending to be their husband/boyfriend, and convincing them to blindfold themselves for some kinky sex before he "came home." It's the same pretext, just taken all the way to sex rather than stopping at a hug. And definitely creepy.

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mm61675 to Bulanov... 2012/07/11 20:28:07

wtf...

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Mavii 2012/07/11 19:49:35

Creepy

If he looked a little something like this
THEN it would be a crime. ;)

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I. Car Rus 2012/07/11 19:49:08 (edited)

Funny

+2
Funny, in a criminally creepy way. Probably not a crime unless if involved sexual touching, but I am reminded of the old phrase: Caveat Emptor even when it comes to hugs.

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Madi 2012/07/11 19:37:00

Funny

+2
A little creepy too.

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retrograve 2012/07/11 19:34:57 (edited)

Funny

+5
Its just a hug. I can take giving a hug under false pretenses. Unless there fondling involved its just an annoyance.

He could of also just wrote free hugs on his shirt and probably would of got some that way.

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Vieuphoria 2012/07/11 19:28:44

Funny

+3
Oh lighten up.

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Quinnasia Blake 2012/07/11 19:27:40

Creepy

+1
It's almost as creepy as the Red Rapist. He would leave behind a red rose after he raped the victims. I think the reason "Jack the Gripper" does this is because something could have happened to him in his past. I don't know why there are complaints.I ♥ giving people hugs!!♥♥♥

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MOMMA THOMAS 2012/07/11 19:25:33

Creepy

+2
ASK ME FOR A HUG, ...JUST DON'T TAKE IT!

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stevegtexas@aol.com 2012/07/11 19:22:20 (edited)

Funny

+4
that is HILARIOUS! some dude tricks chics into hugs? he shoulda just gone to church! the guy shugs chics in grocery stores! a great article! i love it, they should send it into the Jay Leno show! "Hey honey, dont hug me if youll feel guilty later!" sincerely, your boy, steve grissom! 2012

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YourCompanionCube 2012/07/11 19:20:03

Creepy

When you wanna make a friend at the ATM, Just do the creep, Just do the creep!

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Vicereine Killbride 2012/07/11 19:16:23

Creepy

+2
And funny at the same time. I was actually just in St. Louis. Lol

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