I went up to the customer service desk at Wal-Mart on 441 in Apopka to return a Geisha video tape and three bags of Jack Daniels wood chips, all of which I purchased on April 14. The Wal-Mart cashier at the customer service desk (whose name I believe is Cathy) removed the pink stickers, which had been placed on the items by the door greeter when I entered the store. She told me she would issue a credit, because I did not have my receipt.
The cashier then communicated with another Wal-Mart employee (who was later identified as Loss Prevention), after which the cashier told me that she could not return the items. I asked why, and she informed me that she was instructed not to take them, because she was told they are stolen.
I was shocked and asked her who told her that they are stolen? She was then joined by Loss Prevention (a Caucasian woman, whose name I believe is Melissa) who said: you did not bring these items into the store when you entered they are stolen.
During this incident, there were numerous other customers and employees in the customer service area and at checkouts nearby who observed this humiliating experience. Some of these customers could have been people I know. I was shocked, embarrassed and hurt by this very public, wrongful accusation.
Loss Prevention took my identification, and I waited for the police to arrive. During the course of this event, I indicated to Loss Prevention and the Co-Manager (Ron) on numerous occasions that I walked into the store with the items (evidenced by the pink stickers affixed to them by the door greeter). Loss prevention said they researched my movements while in the store, and declared I did not bring the items into the store. All the research that would have been needed was to ask the door greeter (or Customer Service Manager, Desiree, who was standing next to the door greeter when I entered Wal-Mart).
I asked Loss Prevention and the Co-Manager to go and ask the door greeter if I walked into the store with the items, and they did not. I was detained for more than an hour in high visibility in the front of the customer service area until the Apopka Police arrived (Officer Robert Bruce).
Shortly thereafter, the Co-Manager, who initially participated with Loss Prevention, informed me (without explanation) that I could in fact return the items. However, what could not be returned by this time was my dignity and sense of well being owing to this false detention and public humiliation. I felt badly violated by Wal-Mart and obviously targeted.
I entered the store with a friend, Andrew Collins (we rode together to WalMart), who is a Caucasian male, and no research was done of him by Wal-Mart. He was essentially invisible, even though we entered Wal-Mart side-by-side. He was never questioned or approached at any time by any Wal-Mart employee, despite the fact that we remained together while inside of Wal-Mart, except for the short period we separated when I went to Customer Service. He was in as much shock and disbelief as I was about the false accusation. His immediate reaction was you would not have accused me of this, because I am white.
The door greeter and CSM Desiree told me that no one from Loss Prevention ever approached them to inquire into my statements about entering the store with the items. It is apparent, this whole episode manifested out of prejudice and a fixation on me. This incident never should have happened.
I feel very violated by Wal-Mart's inexcusable and degrading actions. I was falsely accused, wrongfully detained, and defamed in front of numerous customers and employees without even an apology from Loss Prevention.
I did not deserve to be subjected to this public humiliation, psychological trauma, and physical stress. I am a service-connected, permanently and totally disabled veteran with a medical condition that is exacerbated by trauma and stress, and this vicious assault by Wal-Mart has had a negative impact on my condition. I am not a common thief, and I deplore Wal-Mart for suchlike treatment. What Wal-Mart did to me is unforgivable. What is more, if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
Something must be done to stop Wal-Mart's immoral, predatory practices and reprehensible behavior.
Charles
Apopka, Florida
U.S.A.
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