This is a nice Target as most are. Very clean, easy to manuver, but much smaller than most. It's college oriented since it is adjacent too the FSU college. With that comes the patients of growing pains for this new location. Hopefully Target Corporate will be in to review and instill proper protocol. An unfortunate incident happened on Wed, Dec. 12, 2018 in which a situation was NOT handled appropriately, by any means. A gentleman was accused of shoplifting. He was then forced against a wall (I was on the other side of the wall), which startled and alerted me that something was wrong when I heard it happen twice. I got up to see what was happening and saw one man holding another man FORCEABLY against the wall with his forearm pressed against the man's throat and another man (security) blocking the entrance, trying to get ahold of the situation. There are so many factors here that are wrong and we're handled incorrectly.
By cornering this man, you have now created a hostile, self preservation situation in which you don't know how this person trying to flee is going to react. At the time, no one knew WHAT was in the backpack or if he even took (stolen) something, but there could have been a gun, knife or another weapon in the backpack. He could have easily pulled out a gun, (which could have shot me through the wall) or any other innocent bystander, including the kids that were in the store. He could have stabbed someone trying to get away or he could have bitten the man that had his forearm near his face ( you don't know this man's medical history to risk being bitten). So many things could have gone wrong and for what? The store has insurance, that either can be written off as shrinkage, but no item(s) is/are worth people's safety and lives.
It is illegal to FORCEABLY detain someone by blocking, barring their egress/ingress and definitely by placing your hands on them in a FORCEABLE manner. This action opens Target up to a huge liability issue. The goal should have been to protect the guests (patrons) there. The store has video surveillance all over. The police should have been called the moment they had confirmation that he had in fact allegedly stolen and the footage readily available for when they arrive. If he had left before they arrived, they still have the footage and eye witness accounts on his description to provide. That is what should have been done. The man holding the alleged shoplifter against the wall was a Target guest (customer)???!!! Apparently he took it upon himself to try and help out. While the intent was good, NOT the thing to do. Target security/Management should have immediately stated, "if you are not a Target employee, REMOVE yourself from the area IMMEDIATELY"!
Again, by cornering him, blocking him, detaining him, you are now creating a caged, forced scenario inwhich, you don't know how this person is going to react or what they are willing to do to get away. Intentions and accidents happen all the time, we see it constantly on the news and social media, no need to be the catalyst for a story resulting in tragedy and over what? A $5, $10,$20 item? Is that the going price for someone's safety and or life?
I am writing this to make people aware, unless someone is being attacked, don't put yourself or others at risk, it's not worth it and not your right to create or contribute to a situation of collateral damage and tragedy. I've made Target Corporate aware of this incident and hopefully staff there will get the proper training on how to handle and contain such incidents. Hopefully they were able to share the CCT with police and "IF" the guy was in fact stealing, it's on video and has been or will be caught and dealt with. This location is new, lots of younger people working there that deserve to chance to grow and live out their lives with the proper skill set and training. read more
