On Monday, July 18th at 6:44P.M.
On recommendation of a friend, I visited the new El Rio Grande Supermercado store that just opened at 215 South Center Street, Grand Prairie, Texas, 75051. My friend had visited the store and ordered a dinner plate from the Concina Del Rio cafeteria inside the store. He liked the item so much he suggested for me to order the same item the next time I visit the store. Standing in front of the Concina Del Rio cafeteria, underneath the menu board, I had forgotten the item my friend suggested. The menu was in Spanish and I could neither read nor speak a word of Spanish; I took out my smart phone and text the friend if it was the Ricas Tortas dinner he ordered or some other meal that was on the menu board.
While I was chatting with the friend on the phone's instance message; a thin, medium height statue employee in his late twenties to early thirties with unkempt a five o'clock shadow facial hair, a receding hairline, loose fitting clothes as if the were one size too big for him accosted me. He asked a question in Spanish. I informed him I do not understand Spanish. He asked me in English what I was doing with my smart phone. I informed him I was chatting with a friend on the phone's instance massage. He asked if I would hand over my phone to him so that he could view what was on my text massages. I thought he was a joking, so I said said no with a laugh. As I was waiting for my friend's text reply, he became more insistence and demands for me to hand over my phone to him. Stating he needs to see what is on my phone's text massages. I refused the second and asked him what is the reason for him to see what is on my phone's texts. The reason he gave to me is that the store prohibits customer from instant messaging inside the store premises and he needs to proof read my texts to see what I am saying about his store. I again said no.in a threaten manner, he commands me to handle my personal phone over or he will take it from me by force. I informed him, unless he has a judicial court order signed by a judge ordering me; I will allow a grocer and its employee read private texts that are on my personal phone. He apparent became upset by my refusal. He moved closer in to me with his face not far apart from my face. With his right hand he made a motion as if he is digging in to his front right pocket in search for a weapon (knife or a box cutter) to pull out and use. Realized I was not fazed his ruse gesture; he becomes more belligerent. He said he “will stop being nice toward me.” He ordered me to “Get the F out of my store. I am throwing you out.” I asked him what is the reason for throwing me out of the store? He answer was “because I can.” I asked for his name and his employee's identification so I can file a complaint. He refused to give me the information. I demand to speak to the manager of this store. To my surprise, he informed me he is the manager in charge. I asked him for the corporate number so I can file a complaint. He restates again “I will stop being pleasant toward you” and for me to “get out of my F store or I will physically throw you off this premises by force.” I did not want to make a bigger scene than it is already and embarrass my self by having a grocer physically throwing me out of the store. I grudgingly left the store.
There were no postings of this policy on signs visible. The policy which gives El Rio Grande Supermercado the authoritative right to confiscate personal phones from its customers because the text function from the phone was used inside the premised; and, the texts are subjected to review by its agent for approval not complying to this policy is warrant to be thrown out of the store without due process or recourse is an unacceptable action on the part of El Rio Grande Supermercado. If this policy is true and routinely enforced by its management, this is an invasion of personal privacy. What gives El Rio Grande Supermercado and its agent the right to check personal phone data? I strongly believe El Rio Grande Supermercado policy is highly illegal.
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