Replies

No, it's not, anymore than asserting your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent means you are guilty of a crime. Assertion of your rights cannot be used against you.

What right?

Sure there is. "I would prefer not to be treated like a criminal in your store". Reason enough?

No, not reason enough. You are being unreasonable. If you act like a thief, be prepared to be treated like one.

There are many, MANY other ways to accomplish that. For instance, for big ticket items, you hand the person a tag to pay for the item, and then the customer turns in the tag at a loading dock. Not to mention that most theft is done by employees.

It doesn't matter whether there are other ways to reduce shrinkage or even whether or not most theft is done by employees, which I agree that it is. What matters is that the store has instituted an anti-theft policy, which may be one of many (seen or unseen by the general public) designed to reduce shrinkage. That benefits the store, the shareholders, and the public.

He tried to leave--which is attempted escape his right Fixed that for you.

This is escape under Ohio law. If a storekeeper has detained you and you try to leave, you have attempted escape, which is a criminal offense.

I wasn't aware that being a jerk was illegal nowadays. We're going to have to build more prisons!

It's not illegal. But when this man chose the course of his actions, he made some mistakes. Larger, more serious mistakes followed. Those actions have consequences.

What right?

How about the Fourth Amendment?

No, not reason enough. You are being unreasonable. If you act like a thief, be prepared to be treated like one.

No, it is reason enough. The store is not allowed to search my property, and once I have completed the transaction, it is my property. Are you going to start asking me for a receipt for all the clothes I'm wearing, as well? I might have stolen one of them, too!

It doesn't matter whether there are other ways to reduce shrinkage or even whether or not most theft is done by employees, which I agree that it is. What matters is that the store has instituted an anti-theft policy, which may be one of many (seen or unseen by the general public) designed to reduce shrinkage. That benefits the store, the shareholders, and the public.

The store is certainly within their right to ask if they can check my receipt. I am also within my right to either allow them to check it, or say "no, thanks", and keep walking.

This is escape under Ohio law. If a storekeeper has detained you and you try to leave, you have attempted escape, which is a criminal offense.No, he was trying to leave the property, and the manager unlawfully detained him.

It's not illegal. But when this man chose the course of his actions, he made some mistakes. Larger, more serious mistakes followed. Those actions have consequences.

I'll agree with you that mistakes were made. The manager made a mistake by impeding the person from leaving the property. The officer made a mistake by arresting the person even after an identity was provided (photo ID is not required). If asserting your rights makes you a "jerk", then I wish that more Americans were jerks.