It is pretty common for LEO wannabees to work in Retail Loss Prevention while going to College and/or academies. Gosh “didn’t cut muster in retail?” What’s that supposed to mean. That was just something I did until I was done with school and got a job that included going around town in a real black & white Ford Crown Victoria with a couple flashing lights on top and a cool box that made loud oscilating noises. Oh I was also issued a few cool sets of clothing that were a little more official than a Wally World vest. About ten years ago I turned my part-time hobby as a Volunteer Firefighter into my chosen career as a full-time Firefighter/EMT. Now I drive around in a big red truck with a noisemaker and flashy thingees. I have no regrets about my career path and choices, it has been very rewarding. Every job I’ve had I managed to leave on good terms and get great letters of recomendation. My comments on this string have been based on my schooling and experience not typical layman’s “I know the law” water cooler gossip. The bottom line that I’m trying to impress upon everybody is that you are responsible for your own safety and well being. You are not required to submit to searches and seizures without due process. The customer at Wal-Mart may well have been a crook, the greeter may have been a hot-head. That is all irrelevant to the underlying fact that all too many people will take a knee to any company rule or supposed official that asks. Letting a greeter go through your bags and showing deference when it is obvious that you just paid for it is showing the same subservient mind-set as a POTUS bowing to a foreign King. It should never happen and it shouldn’t be expected.
On an aside I just watched the video...
That Jack Hole (customer) should not have gone back into the store. His excuse about the liscence plate is bunk. The plate is owned by the State and is public domain. Obviously he had something to hide.
While outside the greeter was well within his right to look from a distance, observe and report. Once inside it’s a bit harder to tell what happened. My gut says the customer took hostile action first by stealing the clip board. At that point if the greeter felt threatened he was justified in using force.
You lost all credibility when you said that a customer could feel threatened enough by a wally world greeter who was taking down his license plate that the customer could be justified in using deadly force.
Proving your first analysis was out of ignorance.
I'm still waiting for you to tell me where one is can use deadly force against a store employee who follows you out to write down your license plate number.