Walmart Lockdown due to parking lot drama

[AZRedhawk44]

http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x1791707599/Report-of-armed-man-leads-to-lockdown-at-Wal-Mart

Maybe I'm just a jerk, but there's no way I'm letting anyone lock me inside a big box store or mall.  If I see employees blocking me from leaving through the front doors, the first place I'm going is OUT some of the fire doors or stock doors in the sides or back of the store.  And if anyone wants to stop me they damned well better be wearing a badge.  Not rental security... a real effing badge.  If it's bad enough for a lock-down, I most certainly DO NOT want to be there. 

I understand not letting people out through the front of the store to where the drama is happening in the parking lot... but I don't want to be in the middle of the sea of caged lemmings.  Yeah, I may not be able to get to my vehicle and leave the area for good, but at least I can walk across the street to the gas station or fast food joint and divorce myself from the drama.

[HankB]

Agree with AZRedhawk about not allowing myself to be locked in by anyone less than a uniformed, sworn, LEO. (And if the fire exits aren't covered, I'm gone.) Putting distance between myself and whatever is happening is priority #1.

In the story, it says that the police identified the man - he had a CELLPHONE to his head - he was TALKING on it.

They TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY and searched his car, finding NO gun.

Really? Nothing illegal? THEN WHY TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY?!?!

Sounds like he has a good basis for a lawsuit.

[zxcvbob]

He was "taken into custody without incident" for talking on his cell phone.

Did they file charges against the person who filed the false report? (why do I even ask questions like that. Of course they didn't)

[dogmush]

from article:

KPD responded to control the scene and ordered a lockdown of the store both to keep shoppers in and prevent the individual from entering the store

Call me pessimistic, but I bet there's a law on the books that makes this lockdown legal, and going out the back a crime.  $10 says that if they catch you ignoring their lockdown with a CCW, it becomes a felony.

Sucks, but in my experiance police departments get testy if you ignore their decrees.

[Chuck Dye]

We really need tort reform.  My first thought when hearing of recent school lock downs in California was that a few successful civil suits for wrongful imprisonment would cure such stupidity, but the reality is that we need to cure the underlying causes.

This is not to say I would not relish retiring on the proceeds of my own suit.

[vaskidmark]

from article:

Call me pessimistic, but I bet there's a law on the books that makes this lockdown legal, and going out the back a crime.  $10 says that if they catch you ignoring their lockdown with a CCW, it becomes a felony.

Sucks, but in my experiance police departments get testy if you ignore their decrees.

At best you might get slapped with an Obstruction of Justice charge, or some other form of "interferring with a po-lice ossifer" complaint.  If the perp is outside the front door and already ID'd I'm saying it would be hard to get a conviction, but you still might have to take the ride and get a set of 8x10 color glossies with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back.  It's after you get the charge dismissed that you spend more money suing for violation of your rights.

Me?  I'm gonna claim a triple medical emergency at the back/side door - bad heart made worse by anxiety and clostrophobia, collapse from bad back, and breathing problems from COPD.  Better get the white&red bus backed up to the door.  If they want to "secure" my handgun I'm getting a receipt for it.  I'll be the nicest, most cooperative cardiac patient they've ever transported.

stay safe.

[Ned Hamford]

I was in a school lockdown for some 6 hours when there was a student with a civil war rifle on campus.  I got out of the classroom and the building, but walled and gated university it was, there was a LEO at each entrance and exit.  I wasn't going to risk jumping the wall, but from talking to some folks gathered around an exit we weren't permitted to leave, I did get to learn what was going on and hear some radio chatter from the LEO.  The radio chatter confirmed my opinion, the lockdown was to further no law enforcement purpose than to look like they were doing something.  Intentions unknown, an ROTC student tackled the 'gunman' before any direct or indicative acts were taken.  When seconds count, the police are just minutes away 

Laws be damned, unlawful imprisonment shouldn't get exceptions unless than is a damn good reason.  I like my arrests to come with actual arrests.

[Jamisjockey]

Not to nit pick the nitpickers, but taken into custody isn't the same as arrested.  If you're ever detained as a suspect you're taken into custody.  Pretty much if you're in cuffs or in the back of a cruiser.  You could be promptly let go, without ever leaving the location of custody. 

[Stand_watie]

Not to nit pick the nitpickers, but taken into custody isn't the same as arrested.  If you're ever detained as a suspect you're taken into custody.  Pretty much if you're in cuffs or in the back of a cruiser.  You could be promptly let go, without ever leaving the location of custody. 

To follow up on that the term "taken into custody" (especially as filtered through the lense of a 'news' report) could be taken so broadly as to mean almost anything, even actions more benign than JJ describes. If a police officer took a lost toddler by the hand or placed his hand on the elbow of wobbly alzheimer's patient to direct him to a seat, while he/she summoned responsible parties for the abovementioned examples, it could be described as "taken into custody".

[BlueStarLizzard]

Can the idiot who called it in be charged with being a busy body chicken little. 

And i'm with you guys, out the back. Had it been a real incident, i'm not staying in the bucket with the rest of the fish.

[HankB]

To follow up on that the term "taken into custody" (especially as filtered through the lense of a 'news' report) could be taken so broadly as to mean almost anything, even actions more benign than JJ describes. If a police officer took a lost toddler by the hand or placed his hand on the elbow of wobbly alzheimer's patient to direct him to a seat, while he/she summoned responsible parties for the abovementioned examples, it could be described as "taken into custody".

OF COURSE this was the same thing - just the police being helpful, probably helping the man dial. I'm sure the motorist found the friendly attention just as welcome as a lost toddler would when Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry helped him find his mommy.

[Stand_watie]

OF COURSE this was the same thing - just the police being helpful...

I'm not saying it was or wasn't. Just that the terminology is very broad.

[vaskidmark]

Can the idiot who called it in be charged with being a busy body chicken little. 

And i'm with you guys, out the back. Had it been a real incident, i'm not staying in the bucket with the rest of the fish.

If the Powers That Be had the nerve to do so, they could charge the induhvidual with any of one or several crimes plus the costs associated with the event.  Odds of it actually happening, given nobody innocently standing by was shot/killed, are somewhat less than the deficit being retired next week.

Whether or not the Powers That Be do so, WalMart and each & every person delayed/detained/distressed can sue civilly for actual damages - and can try for punitive damages as well.  (Had a boss one time that would have sicced his tile-crawler all over the guy had I been sent there on business & been delayed in returning.  Actually was a nice guy to work for, but had an extremely vast dislike of stupidity and the available bucks to make misery for those committing stupidity on his time.)

stay safe.

[Jamisjockey]

Remember: Janet Nopalatno has her "report suspicious activity" message playing in Walmart....the person who reported was just being a good citizen!

[Hawkmoon]

Remember: Janet Nopalatno has her "report suspicious activity" message playing in Walmart....the person who reported was just being a good citizen!

^^^ This.

We have nobody to blame/thank for this sort of incident other than Big Sis. And we can undoubtedly expect more of same.

[AZRedhawk44]

^^^ This.

We have nobody to blame/thank for this sort of incident other than Big Sis. And we can undoubtedly expect more of same.

Bologna.

There were Whigs and Tories in 1775.

Every sane American should roll their eyes and turn on the GIGO filter whenever any empty headed bafoon with a DHS podium in front of them starts talking on camera.

You're attempting to imply a Nuremberg Defense being eligible for civilian decisions based upon DHS directives.  I don't buy it.

[just Warren]

Kirksville Police responded to and defused the situation with no injuries.

What situation? Defused? They interrupted a conversation. Medals for everyone!

[Pharmacology]

Me?  I'm gonna claim a triple medical emergency at the back/side door - bad heart made worse by anxiety and clostrophobia, collapse from bad back, and breathing problems from COPD.  Better get the white&red bus backed up to the door.  If they want to "secure" my handgun I'm getting a receipt for it.  I'll be the nicest, most cooperative cardiac patient they've ever transported.

Enjoy your MONA-B  and $2000 ambulance ride :D

[French G.]

Walmart sells sledge hammers, bolt cutters and the like. It's only a block building if you get seriously pissed.

[KD5NRH]

KPD responded to control the scene and ordered a lockdown of the store  both to keep shoppers in and prevent the individual from entering the store

So, what's the department's liability if one of those untrained employees they just pressed into service as jailers ends up getting hurt?

[Boomhauer]

There are fire exits in the store and fire exits through the stockroom/backroom area (which at the WM I worked at, surrounds the building on three sides). It should be noted that the exits at the store I worked at, unless you went out the front, dumped you out behind the whole walmart/strip mall/shopping center complex, and our shopping center was bordered by mixed residential/wooded area. Yes, I had extensive plans to GTFO of the area when I worked at WM. It would have been trivial to get out of the area, just a lot of hoofing and climbing over a fence or two.

Our "emergency plan" was a load of *expletive deleted*it. It went from lockdowns to covering all kinds of disasters (which we were to "remain a the store" and assist with...yeah right...I'm getting paid less than $10 an hour. I'll do as I see fit)

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

You'd think with all the little ninja toys, that the WOD money buys, that a LEO would have used a scope or other device to get a better look at the guy on the phone.

[Tallpine]

You'd think with all the little ninja toys, that the WOD money buys, that a LEO would have used a scope or other device to get a better look at the guy on the phone.

Yeah, they could have shot the phone from his ear and saved everyone ...