On September 26, 2014 at about 3p.m. I was stopped coming out of the Brown Deer Walmart store by the Brown Deer Police and was asked if they could have a word with me. I did comply and he stated that an employee was accusing me of shop lifting.  I was taken off to the side when he asked what was in my pocket and was soon joined by the female Walmart employee who insisted that I had something in my pocket that I stole from the store and she had me on video tape.  Much to my surprise (because am a frequent Walmart shopper and not a thief), I asked the women if she had such information on tape could I see it.  She said I could not.  The Brown Deer Police talked with me and soon there were several police cars surrounding the area.

 While I was let go, I am writing this letter because I feel that I was violated in this situation.  I also feel as if I was profiled because I was a Black Man simply browsing through the store which until now was something I enjoyed doing as a pleasant pastime on my days off from work.

I believe that if I was accused of something and there was alleged proof, I should be able to see it and defend myself if necessary for I didn’t know it to be a crime to go in and out of my pocket in a store.

I am sadden by all this and frightened at the same time because of how black men have been targeted and treated for such accusations and are automatically presumed guilty.  

I am aware of the high incident of crimes such as shop lifting in stores and I appreciate those working in positions to help defer these activities. However, my concern is that I was not given the opportunity to clear myself and furthermore, as I was trying to cooperate and was still accused of “ditching it” even though there was nothing in my pocket but a receipt and keys.

The used of those words was not necessary nor was the abundance of police cars that responded and followed my car throughout the parking area.  As much as I am in Walmart I have never been treated like this

I simply want Walmart to know that I am sadly outraged and disappointed.  My character has been negatively attacked. And I hope to never experience this again.    Perhaps your employees need to be trained more on how to handle customers in this situation with more dignity and at best offer an apology when necessary.  Which I believe in my case was due.

Because of this incident I will question whether I will continue to shop at this Walmart location at all.