Replies

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.

How about the Fourth Amendment?

Circuit City is run by the government? Since when does the Fourth Amendment apply to private businesses? Oh, wait. It doesn't.

No, it is reason enough.

See, just because you say something doesn't make it true. The store can set whatever rules it likes for its customers. If you don't like it, don't shop there. But if you shop there, don't piss and moan about how you hate the way the store runs the show. I don't know if anyone has ever told you this before, but here's the hard truth: the world does not revolve around you.

I am also within my right to either allow them to check it, or say "no, thanks", and keep walking.

And the store can then detain you. And then if you try and leave, you have the right to be arrested. And then, if you still try and leave, you have the right to be tazed and beaten with batons. Ain't America grand?