Detained by Montgomery County Police For Buying Sugar (left wal-mart w/o receipt)

[The Straight Story]

Detained by Montgomery County Police For Buying Sugar
By bstanfield
June 14th, 2008 @ 2:37 PM Adventures, Crime & Punishment, MoCo, Rockin' the Suburbs, Shopping, WTF?!

I was detained by the police today and accused of stealing. I was also illegally detained against my will by several Wal*Mart employees preceding the detention by police. My crime? Leaving Wal*Mart with four bags of sugar (that I had just purchased) without showing a receipt, because I was not given one by the Wal*Mart cashier. I was threatened with being taken to jail, threatened with physical violence as I attempted to leave, and had to defend myself and my property while Wal*Mart security attempted to rip it from my hands, breaking my bags and causing one of my items to break open on the pavement. After I was released (having been completely innocent all along), I was lectured by the police officer and Wal*Mart manager about how next time I could make it easier on myself by just agreeing to give up my rights to their goons to begin with. While the initial employee who detained me apologized, the others, including the Wal*Mart Manager, did not.

I was at the Germantown Wal*Mart to buy four bags of sugar because earlier in the day I had been at Butler’s Orchard picking 10 pounds of strawberries to turn into delicious jam. And to make delicious jam, you need lots of sugar. I grabbed four bags and headed to the checkout, where I also decided I could use some refreshment. I grabbed a Mountain Dew from the cooler, but the cashier had already processed my card for the four bags of sugar. He apologized and rang up another transaction for the Mt. Dew. At that point, he crumpled up my receipt for the four bags of sugar and handed me the receipt for the Mountain Dew. I headed for the exit, and was greeted by Wal*Mart security who wanted to check my receipt. I produced the receipt for the Mountain Dew and explained that the cashier had tossed the other receipt for the sugar. I would repeat this explanation 6 more times before this affair ended. The rest of the tale is below…

At this point, I attempted to leave, but was told I could not. I immediately asked if I was being detained. I was told “no” but that I wasn’t allowed to leave unless I walked back to the cashier to get a receipt. I said that I was “happy to let the security guard talk to the cashier, but that I was heading home with my sugar.” I attempted to leave again, and the door was blocked. I asked again if I was being detained, and was told “yes.” I asked on what grounds, and the security guard said “Because you stole.”

I informed the guard I had done no such thing, that the sugar was my property, and I was leaving with it. This time I pushed passed him and left the store, with him following me demanding I stop. As I left, he grabbed my bags, ripping them open. As he followed me he attempted to grab my bags, and grab the items inside of my bags. At one point, he told me that he should “kick my ass.” As I reached the end of sidewalk outside the store and headed towards my car in the parking lot, another employee came running and blocked my path. Soon afterwards a manager arrived. I again asked if I was being detained. I was informed by the manager that I was. I again asked for what reason, and was told by the original security guard that it was for stealing. I once again informed them that I hadn’t stolen anything and that I was leaving.

http://dc.metblogs.com/2008/06/14/detained-by-montgomery-county-police-for-buying-sugar/

[patriotvoice]

1. Rather, you were detained for not complying with corporate policy.

The remedy: Don't shop at Wal*mart.
http://www.standuptowalmart.com

It really is that simple.

[Gman]

2. An elbow to the bridge of the nose works very well

with assholes trying to grab you from behind.

[Kittycat]

3. That sucks but... That's what she gets for shopping there.

Sorry, but it's no secret that Wal-mart treats their employees & customers like shit. Why people insist on shopping there is beyond me. I don't care if it's the only store in town. Everyone gather your dollars, and ride-share to the neighboring town to shop. They only get away with crap like this, because people continue to go back - and take the abuse.

Wal-mart horror stories are a dime a dozen.

[MadHound]

6. Umm, perhaps because she can't afford to shop at the local Whole Foods,

Or because WalMart is the only game in town. Or perhaps because rather than burning that extra expensive gas going to the other side of town, she decided to stop at the WalMart close by.

Yes, WalMart is corporate evil incarnate, but blanketly condemning people for shopping there when you don't know the circumstances is, well, rude to say the least.

[Kittycat]

7. And that's exactly how Wal-mart remains in control.

Sorry, I'm not buying the excuses. There are options, and you don't have to shop at whole foods to get what you need. If she had the gas to drive out to an orchard to pick enough strawberries that she needed 4 bags of sugar, then he could have stopped at a different grocery store on the way home. Sugar is one of the few things that is still cheap to buy - even at whole foods (I bought some there, 6mo ago, which also happens to be the last time I visited one).

[SmileyRose]

4. HAHA - My elderly neighbor has A LOT of fun with walmart.

he is a very large man and can recite the law word for word that says he doesn't have to show his receipt to the door guard. He loves to go in there and buy something small enough to fit in his pants pocket that will make the door alarm go off and then keep walking - making the Walmart greeters run him down. Then he says - if you really think I stole something then call the cops but statute blah blah blah says I can go home no matter what you say - he hands them a card with his name and address and keeps walking. Not once, not ever once, have the cops graced his doorstep.

Every time I see him I ask "Fred did you go to "the Walmart" today?" -- he cracks me up.

[Demit]

8. I like Fred.

[HughMoran]

5. Makes me want to go to the WalMart (that I never shop at) & kick sombody's ass

I hate WalMart.

[Richard Steele]

9. We're all so "on guard" against fascism, few of us noticed that FEUDLISM is back.

When you're on WalMart property, you are subject to WalMart law.

That whole "USA CITIZEN" nonsense you thought applied to you?
That stopped at the edge of the WalMart Parking lot, you pig-ignorant PEASANT.

You have 2 choices:
Teach your children that they are worthless little DRONES who need
to get used to crap like this,
or start burning some shit to the ground.



As for myself, I intend to misbehave.

[Subdivisions]

11. I'd love to see you misbehave, dicksteele. In fact,

I'll misbehave by your side. The way things are going, I'm getting the feeling that I have nothing to lose considering the alternatives.

[Th1onein]

10. I OFTEN refuse to show my receipt upon leaving stores.

I HATE shopping at Walmart, but if I have to, I REFUSE to show a receipt at the door. They've never detained me. And they damned well better never.