Since last year, We've heard quite a few stories about how aggressive Wal-Mart has been getting with shoplifting. They've started to demand that customers show their receipts upon exiting the store, which recently turned violent. They have also apparently instructed their loss prevention officers to get serious about catching criminals because we've received e-mails and calls about some pretty brutal and physical treatment from customers who were (wrongfully) suspected of shoplifting, not to mention this story w
Today, we hear that a suspected shoplifter died after a 'scuffle' with Wal-Mart security guards, and it's not the first time this has happened.
Al Norman over at the Huffington Post has a full rundown of this and past incidents:
Another Shoplifter Death at Wal-MartOh no, not again.
The media in Missouri reported Tuesday that a 38 year old caucasian man, identified as Russell S. Palmer, died Monday night, February 2nd while struggling with two Wal-Mart security guards as the result of an alleged shoplifting incident.
The fatality was a repetition of a similar death-by-shoplifting scene that took place less than two months ago in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when 53 year old Patrick Donovan died while being wrestled to the pavement by Wal-Mart employees. The retailer alleges that Donovan had stolen $393 worth of merchandise. Wal-Mart workers and one bystander held Donovan down, while one leaned on his back and another held down his arms and head. The police report says they told Donovan to stop fighting, and asked witnesses to call 911. By the time Donovan had stopped struggling, he had died.
A similar harrowing incident took place in August of 2005, when 30 year old Stacy Driver, of Cleveland, Ohio, a master carpenter and the father of a two year old son, died on from a heart attack while lying in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Driver was pinned down on the burning hot pavement by several Wal-Mart workers who accused him of shoplifting a package of diapers, a pair of sunglasses, a BB gun, and a package of BBs. After Driver was handcuffed, one eyewitness said a Wal-Mart employee had his knee on the man's neck and others were putting pressure on his back. "Finally the guy stopped moving and the employees got off him," the eyewitness told police. "They wouldn't call an ambulance. I looked at him and said, 'Hey, he's not breathing,' but one guy told me (Driver) was just on drugs."
The Kansas City Star described this latest death as the result of a 'scuffle,' which took place at Wal-Mart supercenter #234 on North Church Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Palmer reportedly "went limp and abruptly stopped fighting," while being subdued by Wal-Mart employees. The guards attempted to conduct CPR on Palmer, but he died later in the hospital.
The Kansas City police said that according to the suspected shoplifter's girlfriend, Palmer took drugs for an unspecified medical condition. One TV station claimed that Palmer was a crack cocaine user, with a prior arrest record for stealing.Wal-Mart issued a statement extending its "deepest sympathies to the family."
According to one Wal-Mart employee handbook, workers are told: "Great caution must be used in any shoplifting situation. If you suspect someone is shoplifting, maintain eye contact with the suspected shoplifter and notify a member of management. DO NOT, in any circumstance, accuse or try to apprehend a shoplifting suspect on your own. You may assist in the apprehension if directed to do so by a member of management or Loss Prevention." Wal-Mart also tells its employees, "Wal-Mart takes a very stern view of shoplifting and will prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone caught shoplifting."
This is not a 'hands off' policy. It clearly suggests that Wal-Mart employees can "assist in apprehension," instead of leaving it to the police to handle. Wal-Mart likes to tell its workers to practice "aggressive hospitality," but it looks once again like Wal-Mart's workers have been a tad bit too aggressive.
These parking lot deaths would stop if Wal-Mart spent the time and money necessary to train its workers how to collect the information they need to help authorities make an apprehension. Deadly force is not appropriate, or needed, in these cases.
Regardless of whether you think every shoplifter is a drug dealer with a long rap sheet -- their life is worth more than a cheap pair of underwear, and they don't deserve to die face down in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Wal-Mart's "deepest sympathies" appear to be with loss prevention, over loss of life.
Posted by Taylor - February 4, 2009 03:32 PM - Hard to Believe
Just another example of Walmart not caring about anything but the almighty dollar. Even police have to prove why they used accessive force, why don't these guys?
Posted by M.L. - February 4, 2009 06:45 PM
walmart could care less about people.
Posted by becky - February 4, 2009 08:06 PM
Well what are they supposed to do? Let him out of the store? I know Wal Mart shows compassion everyday by selling food and staple items cheaper then anyone else, but they can't just let people walk out without paying. In order to keep prices as low as possible they have to start getting tough on deadbeats. GO WAL MART!!
BTW I am a 40 year long member of the UFCW Local 1546. The very union that is trying to strongarm their way in to Wal Mart. A few words of advice to Wal Mart employees...... STAY NON UNION! They don't give a rats ass about members
Posted by mike - February 6, 2009 02:38 PM
if you will bully wal mart back they will not act like they are high and mighty. my favorite thing to do is go in late at night and demand they open the electronics dept!! they always have and they fume everytime i do it!! also, when they ask for your receipt, just demand to speak to the manager (or keep walking, they wont follow you)and make him feel bad for not trusting you as a customer. i often just tell em give my money back and i'll go somewhere else.....they hate that!!!!...they always take a much softer stand if you make a scene!!! DO NOT LET THEM BULLY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS!!!!
Posted by Jason Machen - February 9, 2009 06:09 AM
i dont care if you have shoplifted or they just think you did, no one deserves to get treated that way over an object or what you think is an attempt to steal an object. those guys should face criminal charges and be put in jail. and walmart should be charged for letting their associates go to that level
Posted by daisey - February 10, 2009 04:04 PM
they dont show compassion for the people working in sweat shops to make their junk.
Posted by daisey - February 17, 2009 09:32 AM
I don't think people should be saying that all Wal marts do this. Yes I do think that some aren't the best in world but some Wal Marts do follow the rules well. Try working at Wal Mart for a month. It will make you sick to see how much stuff does get stolen there.
Posted by Rebecca - February 26, 2009 09:40 AM