Did a local Walmart security go to far?

[Catherine Vincent]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4821881/detail.html

Wal-Mart Shoplifting Suspect Dies In Store's Custody

HOUSTON -- Investigators said items found on a suspected shoplifter who died while in custody of an Humble Wal-Mart's store security have not provided many clues as to what happened, Local 2 reported Monday.

The 31-year-old suspect stopped breathing Sunday at about 2 p.m. after he was chased into the store's parking lot on F.M. 1960 near Atascocita Road and detained.

Personnel with the store's loss prevention division said the suspect had a wide range of merchandise with him when he was taken into custody.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3300244
-----------------

When I heard this on the news last night, they interviewed one of the witnesses and he said the security men kept holding the suspect down to the ground and they had their feet on his neck and chest but he kept trying to get up and he was telling them to call a doctor.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. oh my gosh - theft lowers our profits

We don't need no judges, juries or charges. If we merely kill all shop-lifters, our profits will soar.

Just wait until you see our new plans for our "associates" who get caught putting legs on items. Heh heh, that old Tom de Torquemada sure had a great business plan. His rack and iron maiden sure do come in handy. Amazing what a little incentive does for our slave labor.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. Look for WalMart to seek lawsuit protection like

Haliburton has in Iraq.

[katsy]

3. Steal a little they throw you in jail... steal a lot they make you king.

I don't care if he was a thief. The judgement isn't wally world's to make.

I hope this man's family sues wally world's asses off for wrongful death. Then I hope the jury triples the judgement.

Phuck wally world. Phuck tasers. Phuck bush's amerika.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Or steal a little and they kill you (nt)

nt

[katsy]

6. ROFL!!!

:thumbsup:

[Horse with no Name]

10. It's Texas

tort reform here.
Unless he made alot of money and was worth alot of money--his life isn't worth enough to sue.
....coming soon to a town near you

[katsy]

15. Can this be taken to higher court?

Corporate rule.

[Eric J in MN]

4. I'm skeptical the guy was sitting there and just stopped breathing (nt)

nt

[ConfuZed]

7. Damn it I wanted to nab a 60" HDTV now with these nazi guards on patrol...

I'm too scared to steal one :(

[wli]

8. the merchandise was probably planted to justify it afterward

[SouthernDem2004]

9. Your right. They chased him for no reason and then sprinkled

merchandise on him.

[wli]

11. probably not quite that blatant

But it could be. There's no way to tell, but "large amounts of merchandise" are rather improbable. My guess is that most shoplifters only take small numbers (e.g. 1) of small items so they can get away with it.

[Horse with no Name]

12. Chances are he stole some stupid $2.00 item or something

and when he "died" all of the sudden...they had to justify it with more merchandise.
Nobody said he didn't steal "anything".

[Deja Q]

13. If walmart treats its employees like piss and buys insurance policies on

them, they'd likely have something to cover the event of a person's death.

I'll save the shoplifting argument for later; except to say that there are too many Christian ways to thwart shoplifting... namely by giving workers living wages and keeping products affordable in a properly balanced society...

[OneTwentyoNine]

14. Bag of diapers and a BB GUN?!?!?!?

Uh...most shoplifters really TRY and hide shit so they can get out the door. How the HELL do you hide diapers and a BB GUN in your shorts???

[Horse with no Name]

16. My guess is that he just had diapers

that is a sign of desperation.
I bet the bb gun was just planted to make it look like he might be dangerous.

[Catherine Vincent]

17. This story remind me of an incident a while back.

Some guy at a mall stole a package of pampers and ran out. Security ran after him, the mall was close to a freeway. The suspect tried to cross the freeway to evade security chasing him and a car and bus ran over him. The guy lost his life stealing a package of pampers for his little one. :-(

[Horse with no Name]

18. Doesn't that break your heart?

It does mine.
Justice is supposed to be tempered with mercy, and when someone is desperate enough to steal diapers or formula for their children, then it seems to me that there are social issues that need to be addressed...not a death sentence handed down by a renegade minimum wage security officer at Wal-Mart. I sure hope murder charges are forthcoming. That would be the ONLY justice.

[pitohui]

19. there's a huge black market for diapers

don't be too sure the diapers were stolen for the thief's child, more likely they were stolen to be traded for crack

diapers are a hot item on the black market in my area

maybe don't ask me how i know this

ask your local law enforcement

you'd be surprised

i would hope the security guards face manslaughter charges, not murder, they could not be convicted of murder in these circumstances but some prison time is appropriate

[Fridays Child]

20. I love your...

...picture of Andy. Still so sad. :(

[McCamy Taylor]

21. Not far enough by Wal-Mart standards. They left witnesses alive.