Kroger manager fired after he slams a knife-wielding shoplifter to the ground

[dmcowen674]

4-19-2014

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews...lding-shoplifter-to-the-ground-175837651.html

Kroger manager fired after he slams a knife-wielding shoplifter to the ground



If you’re an employee of a chain store and you see a shoplifter, don’t confront them. It’s been proven again and again and again and again that no matter how noble your intentions are, you can be fired from your job.



As KDFW FOX 4 News reports, this is exactly what happened to one Kroger grocery store manager in Arlington, Texas.




A customer in the parking lot of the Kroger recorded the incident on their cellphone. In the video, you can see the unnamed manager approach the shoplifting suspect.

The suspect appears to have a knife in his hand. The manager shoves him into a parked car and gets the knife out the suspect’s hand before eventually slamming him down to the ground.

The alleged shoplifter is 51-year-old Claude Medlock. According to KDFW, Arlington Police say that Mr. Medlock has a, “lengthy criminal history that includes theft and robbery convictions.” They didn’t consider the manager’s actions a crime, but that didn’t matter to Kroger. Kroger sent a statement to KDFW, which read in part:

“The incident…is not a reflection of our company’s fraud prevention protocol, procedures or training…He is no longer employed by our company.”
​

The manager told the station that he had worked in loss prevention for 13 years, and “believed he handled the situation properly.”

 

[dmcowen674]

Hopefully an employer that cares about ridding society of criminals picks him up quickly.

 

[Matt1970]

I am thinking the body slam after he got the knife away from him is what cost him his job. I probably would have done the same thing.

 

[cubby1223]

I am thinking the body slam after he got the knife away from him is what cost him his job. I probably would have done the same thing.

No, pretty much anything even minor done to stop a shoplifter gets that person fired. It is disgusting.

 

[Matt1970]

No, pretty much anything even minor done to stop a shoplifter gets that person fired. It is disgusting.

And probably sued.

 

[cubby1223]

And probably sued.

Yea. What we need to do to solve this conflict is to provide laws that strongly favor the store employees over a convicted shoplifter. Then you don't have the monetary threat of a lawsuit.

I'd much rather we work towards that goal, rather than work towards the goal of enabling thieves. Why are you on the side of thieves?

 

[Vic]

Too much liability on Krogers part. The manager could have sued Krogers as well if he had been injured in the altercation. That's why he was fired unfortunately.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Too much liability on Krogers part. The manager could have sued Krogers as well if he had been injured in the altercation. That's why he was fired unfortunately.

Idiocracy.

 

[her209]

The shoplifter should have been killed because leaving him alive he may pull a gun out and start shooting.

 

[MongGrel]

Too much liability on Krogers part. The manager could have sued Krogers as well if he had been injured in the altercation. That's why he was fired unfortunately.

Yep

 

[MongGrel]

The shoplifter should have been killed because leaving him alive he may pull a gun out and start shooting.

That is exactly why most stores just say let em go and call the cops.

To not provoke them to begin with.

Didn't even watch it but what might have happened if the shoplifter did have a gun.

 

[SheHateMe]

Idiocracy.

We live in a very litigious society.

 

[MongGrel]

Store managers do not come under the heading of law enforcement.

Let the shoplifter walk, call police, let them handle it, not like there were things being stolen that should maybe provoke a gun possibly being drawn and mass deaths.

 

[MongGrel]

We live in a very litigious society.

Yes, we do.

Things like this happen in Florida a lot, letting em walk out and calling the cops is pretty much SOP here.

Works almost 100% of the time, as most stores have security cameras recording anything that happens in them.

Same thing as in bank robberies.

 

[Strk]

Since he used to be loss prevention, that means he was probably deputized, and therefore allowed to subdue a suspect (99% of store employees are NOT allowed to do that).

However, he body slammed a disarmed and, from the looks of it, subdued suspect. LP or real cop, that's not allowed.

 

[Matt1970]

Since he used to be loss prevention, that means he was probably deputized, and therefore allowed to subdue a suspect (99% of store employees are NOT allowed to do that).

However, he body slammed a disarmed and, from the looks of it, subdued suspect. LP or real cop, that's not allowed.

Loss prevention people are not deputized.

 

[Sonikku]

The next time a shoplifter holds you at knife point, call the police. Wait for them to arrive. Let them deal with it.

 

[MongGrel]

Kroger does not want someone thinking he's Rambo as a store manager more or less over loss of little money.

You don't confront them to begin with, so you won't be at knife point.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Hmmmmm A manager that doesn't understand and/or fails to follow corporate policy.

That won't look good on his resume.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Guys its not about lawsuits it is about employee safety. Again the guy means well but it is a risk businesses don't want to take over a few cans of soup or something similar.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Loss prevention people are not deputized.

Actually in some locations they can. In Boston there are some very old laws that allow some loss prevention people to actually go to peoples residence, question them and actually apprehend them for the Police. They are effectively an extension of the local Police when dealing with store protection. I remember the old Jordan Marsh (not the Jordans furniture guys) were actually doing that going to suspects homes, talking about how they have the ability to arrest and generally badger people until stolen goods were returned.

 

[MongGrel]

Actually in some locations they can. In Boston there are some very old laws that allow some loss prevention people to actually go to peoples residence, question them and actually apprehend them for the Police. They are effectively an extension of the local Police when dealing with store protection. I remember the old Jordan Marsh (not the Jordans furniture guys) were actually doing that going to suspects homes, talking about how they have the ability to arrest and generally badger people until stolen goods were returned.

They are doing it wrong then.

 

[MongGrel]

Guys its not about lawsuits it is about employee safety. Again the guy means well but it is a risk businesses don't want to take over a few cans of soup or something similar.

It's about both more or less.

You'd have a hard time arguing against that one.

 

[Murloc]

it's a big company and this guy is just the manager, he could have let it go, and I'm sure that it's company policy as well. Getting an employee injured costs more than what a random hobo shoplifter can steal.

If you're just you and your shop, do whatever you want.

 

[BladeVenom]

Lawyers are more evil than shoplifters.