To whoever reads this,
I have recently been charged with theft from a grocery store in Pierce County Tacoma, WA. I was looking for some legal counsel. I will state the case as specifically as I possibly can, hopefully someone will respond. The date of the incident was July, 11, 2007 I had been detained after leaving the store approximately at 3:00 p.m pacific time. The store manager and assistant manager cuffed me outside of the building with my purchased groceries which I had purchased with my food stamp card. I had asked my girlfriend to remain in the store and to hold the remaining products as I left to obtain some cash to purchase them. They detained her as well, she was by the cash register waiting for my return. They then moved us cuffed to the produce room. The manager began to talk to us about what he thought we were doing, I remained silent. I had already felt violated. I didn't even get an opportunity to purchase the products before I was accused. Then the manager tried to settle with me for some fee and the purchase of the products. He had asked us to leave our personal possessions including the groceries I had purchased with an EBT card.While I was gone I had found a police officer to see if this was legal, she had agreed the cuffs were permit able. I had then returned to the store trying to be responsible and handle the matter. When I had arrived a young man I assume the assistant manger named Trevor had met us, we were then moved again back to the produce room. I had been waiting for a police officer to arrive, and in the mean time was seeking legal counsel on the telephone when the assistant manager threw my phone down and re cuffed me, my girlfriend at the time was at my side. We sat patiently from now on till the officer arrived. When he arrived we were cuffed once more and then told our rights. He then asked if we had anything to say I said nothing. We were put in the back of his patrol car and issued a ticket and never actually booked. I never even received the groceries I had purchased back from the store or a refund to the state issued food stamp card, in fact I still have the recepit. I have since then followed through setting up a court date, but it apparently is not in the system yet. Am I in the wrong? Is not what they did exactly what they accused me of? I just don't know how I could be accused of this crime when by dictionary standards it states that a person should have tried to leave the building with the product they had not purchased.Any help will be useful, and appreciated, thank all of you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jon Miller
I have recently been charged with theft from a grocery store in Pierce County Tacoma, WA. I was looking for some legal counsel. I will state the case as specifically as I possibly can, hopefully someone will respond. The date of the incident was July, 11, 2007 I had been detained after leaving the store approximately at 3:00 p.m pacific time. The store manager and assistant manager cuffed me outside of the building with my purchased groceries which I had purchased with my food stamp card. I had asked my girlfriend to remain in the store and to hold the remaining products as I left to obtain some cash to purchase them. They detained her as well, she was by the cash register waiting for my return. They then moved us cuffed to the produce room. The manager began to talk to us about what he thought we were doing, I remained silent. I had already felt violated. I didn't even get an opportunity to purchase the products before I was accused. Then the manager tried to settle with me for some fee and the purchase of the products. He had asked us to leave our personal possessions including the groceries I had purchased with an EBT card.While I was gone I had found a police officer to see if this was legal, she had agreed the cuffs were permit able. I had then returned to the store trying to be responsible and handle the matter. When I had arrived a young man I assume the assistant manger named Trevor had met us, we were then moved again back to the produce room. I had been waiting for a police officer to arrive, and in the mean time was seeking legal counsel on the telephone when the assistant manager threw my phone down and re cuffed me, my girlfriend at the time was at my side. We sat patiently from now on till the officer arrived. When he arrived we were cuffed once more and then told our rights. He then asked if we had anything to say I said nothing. We were put in the back of his patrol car and issued a ticket and never actually booked. I never even received the groceries I had purchased back from the store or a refund to the state issued food stamp card, in fact I still have the recepit. I have since then followed through setting up a court date, but it apparently is not in the system yet. Am I in the wrong? Is not what they did exactly what they accused me of? I just don't know how I could be accused of this crime when by dictionary standards it states that a person should have tried to leave the building with the product they had not purchased.Any help will be useful, and appreciated, thank all of you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jon Miller
