Black mom pregnant with twins accused by Staples manager of shoplifting things under her shirt

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Raw Story

Sarah K. Burris
12 AUG 2018 AT 18:29 ET

A North Carolina woman was shopping at a Pineville Staples when she says an employee humiliated her by claiming she was shoplifting.

According to WSOC News, Sherell Bates is expecting twins, but she wanted to pick up some school supplies for her existing children. She now says that she regrets it.

“Being pregnant is already high-risk, and having to deal with that, just additional stress that I don’t need,” Bates said.

As she was checking out, Bates said that a police officer approached her and asked if she was shoplifting.



Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2018/08/black-mom-pregnant-twins-accused-staples-manager-shoplifting-things-shirt/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Pregnant Staples shopper says she was wrongfully accused of shoplifting, hiding items under shirt

10 hours ago
By Stephanie Tinoco, WSOCTV.com

PINEVILLE, N.C. —
An expecting mother said she feels humiliated after she was asked if she was trying to shoplift from a Staples store in North Carolina.

"Being pregnant is already high-risk, and having to deal with that, just additional stress that I don't need,” Bates said.

Bates said a police officer asked her if she was shoplifting while she was checking out of the Pineville store.

"Mid-transaction, a police officer approached me and insisted he wanted to speak with me,” Bates said. “He asked what was under my shirt.”

More:
https://www.ajc.com/news/national/pregnant-staples-shopper-says-she-was-wrongfully-accused-shoplifting-hiding-items-under-shirt/zdExID09lfJPepVc5l1iSP/

[Demovictory9]

2. wow. the only evidence was her big tummy. They didn't see her shoplift, no evidence of missing merch

just black woman with big stomach... go get her cops!

[lunasun]

3. Well she is black and has something under her shirt WTF!!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Should have responded to the cop....

"well, honey, it's your child....have you forgot already?.........

Suspected for pregnant while black....that's a new one.......

[LenaBaby61]

7. Should have responded to the cop....

"well, honey, it's your child....have you forgot already?.........

So the cop could hit her for mouthing off? Just sayin'

Being black now-a-days for anything can get you physically abused, or worse
with some of these racist, rogue cops.

Cop accused of punching pregnant woman in face -

https://nypost.com/2017/03/15/cop-accused-of-punching-pregnant-woman-in-face/

[heaven05]

5. whoa

innocent black people get shot down for less and in stores for shopping while black and now shopping while pregnant and black(SWPAB) at the behest of customers and employees. I am so glad she made it through this humiliation. May she and her babies be healthy.

[47of74]

6. Apparently the manager in question is now a former manager

I just got this response from Staples;

On Friday at our Pineville location a Staples’ manager mistakenly assumed a customer was shoplifting and reported this assumption to a police officer visiting the store. The police officer questioned the customer and quickly confirmed there was no theft. Based on the outcome, Staples’ issued a full refund to the customer. Staples has since conducted a full investigation into the matter, and determined that the manager in question did not follow correct protocol and also failed to adhere to our existing policy on how to interact with our customers. As a result of this finding, the manager has been terminated and Staples has apologized to the customer. At Staples, we want all customers to feel welcome in our stores, and work with our associates to foster an inclusive culture. As an organization, we would like to apologize to the customer as that was not the case in this instance. ^BP