It was only a matter of time.

Really? So, next time we're in Best Buy and they ask to see our receipts, we can just say no?

Nancy Reagan much?

If he wasn't a cop, he would be in jail, point blank. We see all the time where police state in error that we should show the receipt, or we are breaking the law.

Wow, preferential treatment much?

what a thug. this man is an embarrassment to other cops.

Judge Milian wouldn't have done that, she would've done what they call rough justice.

Ahh....America

Uh oh. Here we go again.

I'll revisit this thread when it hits 600 comments.

Fair warning : There are two sets of laws in my adopted hometown of Chattanooga: One for the cops,city officials and the well connected,and one for you and me.

Backstory: This detective had a run in with a local attorney that involved fisticuffs at the local courthouse back in '07. He seems to be a loose cannon that can bully and intimidate others because he is a cop.This is not uncommon in this town.If you are traveling through on I-75,I 24,I-59 or otherwise,you might want to think about a stay in nearby North Georgia.

The greeter should sue this guy. The standard of proof in civil court is much lower.Better yet,get some greeters that will break bad with bullies like this cop and teach them a lesson...

In my opinion, they are detaining you as a potential shoplifter without having any evidence. Good for him.

@summerbee: I know you're trying to crack a joke, but you're exactly right - you can just say no.

In further news, Ken then returned home where he slapped his wife around, yelled at his kids, kicked his dog, and then drank himself to sleep.

"Law without order is of far greater danger to the people than order without law" - Thomas Jefferson.

It seems like virtually every police department in Tennessee is a member of the Good Ol' Boys network...google Ricky Headley or Coopertown for more fun...or THP and Dave Cooley...THP and background checks...and then you have the Nashville PD...which, while not necessary corrupt, had the brilliant idea of a couple of years ago of requiring its undercover cops to be in uniform once a week, effectively blowing their cover.

As much as I hate cops abusing their authority and getting preferential treatment...I do have to say...I love 70 year olds getting pumeled.

/warm fuzzy

Oh and yeah, that receipt checking thing sucks!

I wonder if the receipt checking policy actually discourages shop-lifting of just serves to annoy customers and cause ridiculous lines.

I'd bet money Walmart has internal data on it.

@mgy: It really shouldn't turn into a "show it/shouldn't show it" argument since the issue here is that a guy got violent and got away with it but I'm thinking you're going to be proven right.

Okay, seriously, basic human kindness says YOU DON'T SHOVE OLD PEOPLE.

@Jack Doyle: So you're okay with people being physically injured just so you don't have to stop for a split second to hand someone your receipt after the security alarm went off? It's not like they just stopped him and said "we think you're a shoplifter" - the security alarm went off, and that's reason enough to need to examine a receipt in case. They can't just ignore the security alarm - it's there for a reason.

@Snarkysnake: This is pretty appalling. Is there likely to be further action/intervention? Might the employee refile, or might the police cave to media pressure and deal with this guy?

(We had a similar loose cannon cop locally that they kept not dealing with ... until he killed some people DUIing a boat. And then it was all, "Why didn't anyone deal with this the first six hundred times?")

No Bad Consumer tag?

@LorneReams: Yeah, it helps when you can shove a guy through a window, tell him to either leave or be arrested, and then report that he did not need medical attention.

I would of spent Christmas in the county jail, because I would've not of gotten out of that cops face.

God bless that man who got thrown through the window, I wish he would grabbed him by the coat and took the cop for the ride.

@Jack Doyle: An alarm went off as he was leaving. And seriously, just refuse to show the receipt or whatever. No excuse for getting violent.

For a second I thought the employee was 17 not 71. :/

I can't believe it's not even going to trial.

I suppose if there's anything to take away from this is never refuse medical treatment after someone hurts you (it was one of the excuses used for not charging him in the first place).

@machinespirit:

I say no thank you and I remember not to go back to the store ever again.

I'm very much anti-receipt checking but at least in this situation there was some "reason" the alarm went off. What drives me loony is checking out in front of the rent a cop and then being stopped to make sure I paid for my goods. Dude, you just saw me pay????

@Eyebrows McGee: Or push people through glass.

Here is to hoping big, tough Ken gets one behind the ear from some meth-head before he actually does hurt someone.

I spent six weeks in Chattanooga in 2000 while on a consulting project; generally nice people, but felt like I was in pre-civil war society...

@Smashville: Wasn't there a sheriff in TN who would get drunk and beat up prisoners? As I recall they found bodies buried under the jail.

@Snarkysnake: I hate to break it to you and everyone else here but that stuff goes on everywhere. If you are important or know a lot of cops you get away with more.

@Eyebrows McGee: Okay, I won't. But I can still beat up goths, right?

@akyiba:

Sounds more like something Judge Judy would love and I would love to see what she would do to this cop.

Though I don't believe that Walmart employees treat customers right, the cop had no justification in pushing a 71 year old. The cop could have refused to show the receipt and walked away. Physical violence casts the cop in bad light and deservedly so but it overshadows the idiotic policies of Walmart.

@Jack Doyle: I doubt that a 70 year old reaching an arm out requires you to pin him to a vending machine. I'm pretty sure saying no thank you and walking around is an acceptable method, rather than assaulting him.

....So this is really better than just showing your receipt? Pushing down a 71-year old? Does this now give precedence to respond with physical force when a minimum wage worker is just trying to do their job?

I know the stores don't have the right to ask you to show your receipt, but really, how is this better than simply showing it? A little civility never killed anyone...or..say...knocked anyone over.

@kranktank: Hardly. Seems to fit the general hiring criteria.

wtf..... that's just isn't right... I hope justice is served somehow.

I want this written into the law. "All customers have the right to use any required violence to pass by two bit security guards; up to and including capping their asses."
In reality I believe that if someone prevents you from legitimately leaving their store then it is basically kidnapping light. Thus you should be able to react accordingly.
Years ago I had 2 dollars stolen; thus I should be able to physically stop people on the street and examine their wallets; maybe a strip search. I am pretty sure that by about my 50th forced wallet inspection I would have been shot at least once.

Radley Balko, a writer for Reason Magazine, keeps track (among other interesting things) of police officers overstepping their bounds at his website, [www.theagitator.com]
I recommend his site to all for some real eye-openers.
There are two kinds of justice in America today: one for law enforcement officers, and one for everybody else.

Jesus christ. Cops these days are on a power binge. I hope that someone somewhere holds this guy accountable, as well as other police that abuse their power.
Police officers should face double penalties if caught doing something wrong, not constantly get off 100% free. They have a sworn duty and are trained for it. Hold them accountable!

@Eyebrows McGee:

"Is there likely to be further action/intervention? Might the employee refile, or might the police cave to media pressure and deal with this guy?"

You're asking and opinion question,so I will give you my opinion: No and no. The local politicos know that they can ride this one out.There is no local media outlet that can afford to make this a cause celebre because to do so would mean that they would lose their all important "access".(Indeed,you would have to look awfully hard to find anything about this in the local daily paper) That means that they would be frozen out of the carefully managed news that trickles out of the police department and city hall, and they would have to work to get it themselves or -horrors- hire more local reporters. To be fair,this is a problem in many mid/small towns. This news came to us through the local online daily, otherwise, Det. Freeman would probably be beating up some hapless immigrant right now,just for kicks...

@bobpence: Yes. And emo kids.

According to the article, he already had his receipt checked:

Rick Watkins of Wal-Mart said an alarm was sounded when the 48-year-old Freeman walked by, causing Mr. Walker to try to stop him. Sgt. McPherson had already stopped for a receipt check.

Just like in the case of Oscar Grant III, this is just the establishment telling us peons that they can control us and define which laws apply to which classes of people.

@bobpence: No, goths are people too.

@akyiba: Yeah, baby. She'd probably toss in some "old spanish expression" that she just made up, too.

@PandaWatch: Those alarms go off constantly and have a very high failure rate. The alarm going off does not provide proof that I have shoplifted anything, and does not provide reason enough for you to ask to look at a receipt for items that I have bought and paid for.

Wow!

I usually just show my badge and keep on walking. When that other "customer" got involved, if he placed his hands on the detective, the detective could have arrested him. But hell, shoving the guy through the glass? Charges should not have been dismissed, especially if the detective was off duty.

If it's true that they have no legal right to check receipts, then they should fuckin' stop doing this.

Just like the WalMart Christmas Death Sale, this is WalMart's fault. It is not the fault of the police officer, in my opinion.

@SadSam:
I take a similar tact at our local Fry's Stores. I just say "Thanks" or "I got it" while brandishing my receipt. I will not have my possesions searched. Make no mistake; once the merchant willingly accepts my hard earned ducats or swipes my debit card for merchandise it becomes MY merchandise.

Freedoms which are given up are hard to get back and help to enable something more substantive than a receipt check down the road. Besides it is MY stuff. No explanation should be expected or required.