http://news.yahoo.com/pregnant-mom-says ... 07004.html
"Famished, the former Air Force staff sergeant picked up the two sandwiches that together cost $5. She openly munched on one while they shopped, saving the wrapper to be scanned at the register later.
But they forgot to pay for the sandwiches as they checked out with about $50 worth of groceries.
"When the security guard questioned us, I was really embarrassed, I was horrified," she said. They were led upstairs, where the couple expected to get a lecture, pay for the sandwiches, and be allowed on their way.
But store managers wouldn't allow them to pay for the sandwiches, she said.
"I asked to talk to a manager and he said it was against their policy to pay for items that left the store," she said. "The security guard said we were being charged with shoplifting."
Four hours later, a police officer arrived and read them their rights. A woman from the state Child Welfare Services arrived to take Zofia away."
I think the saddest thing about this case isn't the pettiness of the store, or the ridiculous bureaucracy that led to them being arrested for a fourth degree misdemeanor and their kid being taken by the state for 18 hours, but this couple's ignorance of their rights. Look, I feel bad for them, but it took 4 hours for police to arrive, likely because even they knew this was so incredibly stupid and were dealing with more important things (Literally anything else).
Who the hell sits in a store office for 4 hours? Do Americans realize loss prevention officers have zero authority to detain them, and that if they so much as lay a hand on you, that you can press assault charges against them? Store security aren't cops, they have no authority to detain you. So most of all I'm sad that it even came to this, I doubt the couple could have even been arrested if they just flipped the store the bird and walked out.
