Georgia Shoplifter Death at Walmart

[Curtis Baillie]

NewsChannel 5

LITHONIA, Ga. — A man suspected of shoplifting DVD players at a Walmart died Sunday after a confrontation with workers at the Atlanta-area store.

WSB-TV reported that the man died was pronounced dead after an altercation with workers outside a store in Lithonia.

The company said two workers were suspended with pay, and a security contractor will no longer work at the store, located about 15 miles east of downtown Atlanta.


Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/nationa...#ixzz2DKk5fF7g

[Curtis Baillie]

From an ABC News article - "The preliminary police investigation indicates the victim was placed in a choke hold by the security officer. The cause and manner of death is to be determined by the DeKalb Medical Examiner’s office. A spokesman said no information on the victim would be released until Monday."

[Pop pop]

Oh boy, the use of Deadly force? one security and two LP Officers in on a take down, legal trouble down the road?

[sec-guy]

The "disengage" policy if it included not chasing past the area closest to the store (like the parking lot) would be better. Employees will get hurt in the parking lot.

[Curtis Baillie]

Innocent bystanders get hurt when the "chase" is on. I was just contacted the other day by an attorney whose client was severely injured when two security agents were chasing a shoplifter. It's that "bring them back at any cost" - even if the policy says no.

I had a case close not long ago where a store employee was chasing a suspected shoplifter in the store and a elderly woman was hurt. jury found for the plaintiff. The defendants appealed the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court and they refused to hear the case - thus upholding the jury decision.

[sierra49]

Here are the links to the news reports for this story. What would you do, or do you do in similar situations? Is that consistent with what your employer wants you to do? Is that consistent with your post orders?

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/p...sed-shoplifter

http://www.examiner.com/article/walm...cer,-employees

I've done a few Walmart overnight shifts. This is an unarmed post.

[sierra49]

Sorry folks, my links don't work. Please go to examiner.com and search for "Walmart shoplifter." Scroll down and you'll see the article.

Also please go to ajc.com (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and search for "Walmart shoplifter." Scroll down and you'll see the article.