Answers sought in death outside Wal-Mart

[Conservativesux]

HoustonChronicle.com

Aug. 9, 2005

Answers sought in death outside Wal-Mart

Man accused of theft begged to be let up from hot pavement, witness says

By ROBERT CROWE and S.K. BARDWELL

A man suspected of shoplifting goods from an Atascocita Wal-Mart — including diapers and a BB gun — had begged employees to let him up from the blistering pavement in the store's parking lot where he was held, shirtless, before he died Sunday, a witness said.

An autopsy for the man, identified as Stacy Clay Driver, 30, of Cleveland, was scheduled for Monday, but officials said results probably would be delayed by a wait for toxicology tests.

Driver's family, as well as one emergency worker, are questioning company procedure, including whether Wal-Mart workers administered CPR after they realized he needed medical attention.

<snip>

"When we got there, the man was facedown (in cardiac arrest) with handcuffs behind his back," Worrell said. "That's not indicative of someone given CPR."

Wal-Mart employees referred calls to the Harris County Sheriff's Department, where homicide detectives are investigating the death.

"We're just not able to provide any comment at this time ... ," said Christi Gallagher, spokeswoman at Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

More at:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3301862

[awoke_in_2003]

1. Unbelievable...

the greed of this company. Don't the Waltons have enough money? Why in the world are employees allowed to go after a SUSPECTED shoplifter- what could he get away with, maybe $500 worth of merchandise. They let their employees risk their lives going after shoplifters, in this case having a man die on them. Spent 8 years in retail management and the number one rule was LET THEM HAVE IT. If they want to steal it, let em. If you are at the register, let em have the cash. Insurance covers the loss. Greed, the new american tradition.

[Conservativesux]

3. Walmart is a very immoral company to be certain. I won't shop there.

I am not sure that they can legally detain a suspect like this, not to mention in a manner which resulted in his death.

I only hope the DA will press manslaughter charges on the WM employees and the WM managers that allowed this to happen.

[madeline_con]

6. Could be a Colonel Klink mentality....

MY WalMart's loss is lower than Manager Joe's in the next town over.

[silverweb]

2. Manslaughter at a minimum.

This was a case of a sadistic power play that resulted in a man's death, now compounded by lies of attempted CPR. Maybe an Abu Ghraib or Gitmo guard wannabe?

Houston. Summer. Hands cuffed behind the back. Bare chest against boiling pavement.

There's no acceptable excuse.

[Conservativesux]

4. No excuse at all for this man's death. Merchandise is all WM cares about.

[silverweb]

7. The details are horrifying.

"About 30 people were saying, 'Let him up, it's too hot,' " Portz said. He said another employee brought a rug for Driver to lie on, but one of those holding Driver said he was fine where he was.

<snip>

After Driver was handcuffed, Portz said one employee had his knee on the man's neck and others were putting pressure on his back.

"Finally the guy stopped moving" and the employees got off him, Portz said. "They wouldn't call an ambulance."

Un-fucking-believable!

I hope the family and the DA throw the book at the employees and the company responsible for this sadistic murder! Whether the man was shoplifting or not, no one deserves to be treated like that.

[silverweb]

8. At least there were plenty of witnesses.

There should be a good case for both the criminal and civil courts. I hope Wal-Mart loses millions over this -- at the very least!

[Conservativesux]

15. Not to mention that WM has video camera's all around thier stores.

Unless they erase the video evidence, which would be another crime BTW, they are going to be having a real hard time in court.

[Conservativesux]

13. Amen to that. I wouldnt treat an animal the way these creeps did this man.

Hopefully this man's family and the district attorney will make sure the WM stormtroopers who killed him go to jail for a good long time.

[madeline_con]

5. Even thought it's WalMart's fault, they'll be hung out to dry.

Procedure probably says chase these guys and restrain them.

[silverweb]

9. They deserve to be hung out to dry.

No matter what procedure says, their actions were excessive and sadistic. See post #7 above for details.

The employees and the employer need to be held fully accountable.

[madeline_con]

10. Agreed...

The witnesses will get a conviction for the one who did the most holding down. I doubt anyone else is punished.

[silverweb]

12. There's usually a "ringleader."

He deserves the heaviest punishment. The others deserve to be punished, as well, but I guess we'll have to wait and see how that goes. I'm curious as to whether or not the "ringleader" had job-related rank rather than just being a bigger bully.

[madeline_con]

14. I'd bet he was the type who'd taser someone to death if he

were a cop.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. As to his position

he was probably one of those parking lot security guards. Walmart here uses them, as they scoot around in there little golf cart "keeping the piece". Not to slam all security guards, but it does seem that most of them are cop wannabe's who can't make the academy and are bitter about it.

[silverweb]

22. Could very well be.

I wouldn't be at all surprised and I've seen a couple of the cop wannabes that you're talking about -- arrogant, power-drunk, cocky little bastards.

Like others here have said, I too hate Wal-Mart with a passion.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

11. Thanks for the article. My town just held a special referendum asking

if we wanted to allow WallyWorld to build a "Super" fascist entrenchment in our small town, we all voted "no", now I will print that article and mail it to each and every City Council Member before they vote. We already have our own force of uniformed criminals in this town, we don't need WallyWorld importing nazi-like security forces.

[NYC]

16. Wal-Mart doesn't seem to obey laws.

You can't kill a person because you suspect him of shoplifting.

[Conservativesux]

17. Nope. They just dont care. They have the money and the lawyers.

Very sad for all of us "little peons". like this poor man.

[durablend]

19. Drunk with power they are...

Much like you-know-who

[Conservativesux]

23. That is so true!

[Pepperbelly]

20. A friend of mine has been tied up in litigation with Wal-Mart for decades.

They filled her script with bad insulin. I do not know the specifics except that she ended up at death's door in the ICU. She won her lawsuit with more than $20 million in damages. Wal-Mart has filed every appeal possible, dragging their feet until the last possible moment at every juncture and she is still waiting for payment of the judgement.

Wal-Mart is almost out of time with her and soon must pay. Appeals are exhausted and they are just one step away from contempt.

If Wal-Mart is at fault, count on them to delay and delay and delay with a whole HERD of lawyers. They are despicable.

[Clintmax]

21. I hate Wal-Mart...

I think all those responsible, including all associates who stood by while this man died should be charged with manslaughter and put in jail!