“No, what the manager “had” to do was to restrain himself...”
You are still talking legally, while I have explained repeatedly that my primary concern is moral and practical. a little slow? Whatever. Have fun being outraged.
Here’s a couple of moral questions: Do you think the manager feels guilty for unlawfully detaining someone that didn’t turn out to be a shoplifter, especially when he had no suspicion of that fact in the first place? Do you think he feels guilty that he cost his company a nice check that will be paid out to the author of this article?
Do you think the cop feels guilty that he arrested someone who fully cooperated with him, provided identity and proof he stole nothing, and in fact was the person that called him?
Practical questions:
How long do you think it will take for the manager to find another job, now that he’s most likely been fired?
The first time you or one of your family runs into a store security bubba that has delusions of being a Jack Bauer or Rambo, you will change you attitude. Its sort of like how a liberal converts to being a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment after they get mugged. When some fool is waving pepper spray in your face for something you have not done, it tends to make one hostile, which I am to idiots on general principle anyways.
I tend to be hardcore about standing up for my rights and the rights of others, but I am pragmatic. I show the exit checker my bag when I leave the Wal Mart in my home town. I know most of the checkers personally, and you behave civilly in small towns, where everyone is your neighbor.
My issue is with the wannabes who exceed any reasonable standard of behavior. Those are the idiots I go after. Most backdown and slink away, a few dumb ones have gotten chesty and paid dearly for it. I have no problem ruining their day and then some.
Had an incident recently where a security goon came after me before I had even parked. In the end it was a case of mistaken identity. However before that was made clear, the idiot was down and disarmed. The store asked me not to sue, and I agreed to a mutual hold harmless provided they fired the bubba. I assume they did, I was just passing thru so I have not verified that.
I have no problem with LP bubbas who follow the law since I am always clean. I cooperate with things like bag searches, since its a pragmatic thing to do in most cases. I do have a problem when they step out of line, esp if they attempt to get physical. I am more than glad to forcibly point out the error of their ways, since it serves as a significant deterrent to others. I do not push for financial settlements provided the store admits fault and fires the bubbas, again because its pragmatic. I have never been PNG’d or sued over it.