You better stop running. Stop now. Get down on the ground. Get down on the ground. >> Give me your hand. Give me your hand. Get on your stomach. Give me your other hand now. Don't you resist me. you here. >> On April 25th, 2025, officers pursued, tased, and arrested a suspect linked to an organized shoplifting scheme at a Walmart, producing a body cam record that intersects use of force law, retail theft statutes, and the constitutional duty of care owed to people in custody. This analysis evaluates the legal standards governing each of those areas and assesses how both officers and the subject measured against those established benchmarks. >> You better stop running. Stop now. Get down on the ground. Get down on the ground. Give me your hand. Give me your hand. Get on your stomach. Give me your other hand now. Don't you resist me. You here. We're 1026.26. >> Don't you be reaching for nothing. >> Get on your side. You got anything on you I need to know about? >> All right, my man. >> You okay? >> Dear, you hurt. >> He had some blood on his hand. Probably from hopping the fan. >> Yeah, he had to hop barbwire. >> Copy. 1037 on 1037. >> What you listening to? >> Someone get a probe removal tool, please. >> Okay. >> What are you reaching for? What's in your pocket? >> No. >> Are you hurt? >> No. >> He had a bag that he dropped somewhere along the way. Hey, did you see it? Where'd you drop the bag at? >> You were carrying something. a bag, a sweatshirt, something. >> She was up under the tree branches right in front of my car. We came around the back here. Rebecca, >> we went around that way and back towards my car. >> I'll sit you up soon as I'm done checking your pockets. >> I've asked you several times. You haven't give me a firm answer. Are you hurt? No. >> Okay. Just a little tired. All right. Can I sit you up? All right. >> I've got someone going to get a tool. Don't you be reaching. I'm not. I'm not. >> You are. When your fingers go for something, that's called reaching. >> I was just Anyway, soon as they get over here with a tool, we'll get these taser prongs out of you. Okay. >> Hey, David, you got a taser tool to get the prongs out? >> He's got one right here. >> Oh, we got one. We got one. Thanks. >> What else you got? >> This pocket. >> Is that in this pocket or is that a >> No, it's in this pocket. >> What? What? Don't be reaching. What pocket is that in? >> Oh, I see. It's all folded up. >> What's up with your hand? >> Cut it on the fence. >> Yeah. >> You okay? >> It's just cigarettes. >> Yeah. >> Can you sit up on your own or do you need me to hold you? >> He's a grown man. >> I just don't want him falling on me. >> Hold still. >> You ready? >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm going to do it on three. Okay. All right. >> One. >> I thought you'd go around. >> It all worked out well until I saw him >> and then he saw me. >> Stand up. >> Hold on. We got one more in your arm right here. You want to get this? >> Damn. Who is this? See pretty good. >> You want gloves, man? We can do this a little more effectively. >> Got pressure. E wrapped around his arm. You got any diseases or anything? >> Okay. >> You got it wrapped around the handcuff. >> Nope. Look at that. >> I am professional. >> You don't have to keep those more, do you? >> All right, my man. I'm going to stand you up on three. You able to stand? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, go ahead and put your knee up under you. >> Put your left knee up under you and then I'll help you up. You'll just roll up. All right. 1 2 3. There we go. Let's walk this way. There's a couple coins there. If you want to make sure you get all that, too, please. >> Yeah. I'm going to get a bag for you. >> Thank you. Ah, we going to wait right here. That's what I thought. You good to stand? Yeah. >> I'm going to search you a little bit better. Spread your legs for me. Lean up against the vehicle. All right. If you need to support yourself. Is there anything else on you I haven't found that I know about? All right. As soon as I'm done searching, you will find uh some band-aids or something to put on you, too. Okay. Do you need an ambulance to see your hands at all or you good with us just doing some band-aids? All right. Too little, too late. >> 104. If you could come back to your vehicle. That's where I have him right now. All right. So, nothing else on you. I need to know about it, right? All right. >> What's that? See you all. >> Yeah, he went over barbed wire fence like twice. >> Left hand, boss. >> Commitment, dude. >> Couldn't get rid of the dope either. Huh? >> In your hand. >> The red wrapper. I thought it was the blood. I'm not going to lie. >> Hold on. >> I appreciate that. I have things I could say, but for the sake of everything right now, I'm not going to. >> Thank you. >> He's going, man. You hear him? as soon as she gets here. >> The taser deployment is the first legal question under Graham versus Connor 490 US 386 decided in 1989. All uses of force must satisfy an objective reasonleness standard evaluated through three factors. Crime severity, immediate threat level, and active resistance or flight. The subject was actively fleeing, had crossed a barbed wire fence during the pursuit, and was the confirmed target of an active shoplifting investigation. All three Graham factors were present, making intermediate force objectively reasonable at the moment of deployment. The legal distinction between intermediate and deadly force is critical. Tennessee versus Garner 471 US1 decided in 1985 held that deadly force may not be used to stop a fleeing suspect absent a significant threat to life. A taser is classified as less lethal force and does not reach the garner threshold. Flight also carries independent legal consequences. In Illinois versus WLLO 528US119 decided in 2000, the court held that unprovoked flight from law enforcement combined with other circumstances contributes materially to the reasonable suspicion required for a lawful stop. In Georgia, OCGA section 16, 10, 24 makes it a criminal offense to willfully obstruct or hinder a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of duties. Fleeing a lawful investigation satisfies that element and adds an independent charge on top of whatever investigation was already underway. The post arrest search was constitutionally lawful under United States versus Robinson 414 US 218 decided in 1973. Following a lawful custodial arrest, officers may conduct a full search of the arrestes person with no additional warrant required. Every pocket, every shoe, and every item within immediate control is within scope. The controlled substance recovered during that search introduces a serious legal dimension. Fentinel is classified as a schedule 2 controlled substance under OCGA. Section 16, 13, 30, subsection A carrying a sentence range of 2 to 15 years. That charge alone is felony level in Georgia. >> We'll sit you down so we can get this car unlocked. If you need to lean up against it for now, go ahead. Someone got some band-aids where you can start cleaning him up. >> You could get me a little first 80 kit or something. >> What color is it? >> Purple. >> Oh, okay. starting came. >> He had some stuff that he was carrying that he dropped. So they're just backtracking. >> You ain't hiding nothing down in your drawers or in your shoes, are you? No. >> All right, we taking your shoes off as soon as we get you sat down. Just so you know. Tell me now and make our lives easier. >> All right. Okay. >> Didn't know you were going to get a concert, too, when you came, did you? >> What's that? >> He's good. >> He doesn't eat a mess. I'm just waiting on a little bit of something to clean him up. >> Let's use Let's use paper towels since it's open wounds. >> Yeah, it's full. If anybody has like an alcohol wipe and a first aid kit >> alcohol got them. Do you mind baring through the phone real quick? >> You got all this stuff on my phone. >> All right. Here. Listen up, my man. This is a representative of Walmart on the other end of the line. Okay. She's the reason her reporting all this activity is why we're out here today. >> Her name is Beth. She has something she needs to tell you with regards to Walmart. Just listen. Go ahead. >> So, my name is Beth. I just want you >> whole complex. >> All right, go ahead and face the car again. >> Perfect. As soon as you close the trunk, we'll get that stuff out. >> I was going to swing by after we got sterile or anything. >> She just got that out. Somebody wants to drive. >> Go inside. >> Well, you know what would help? >> Yeah, you have more room. >> Sorry. >> You're good. >> There's a couple coins there, too. >> And uh >> there's a uh his paper to make sure there's nothing in it. >> Let me cut my big >> All right, that's everything. Yeah. See? >> Yeah. Cuz he went over barbed wire. >> Are y'all going to have EMS come check him? What's his hand look like? >> Just a little cut off. He didn't want EMS, so I told him we to do band-aids. >> Okay. Yeah, we're going to do band-aid. He's declining EMS, but we're still over here on >> shoplifting under OCGA. Section 16814. The offense is a misdemeanor when merchandise value falls below $500. Subsection B. Paragraph 3 changes that entirely for repeat offenders. A third conviction within five years elevates the charge to a felony regardless of the dollar amount of each individual incident. Officers in this footage were actively verifying whether prior incident reports supported that felony threshold and correctly deferred the final charge determination to supervisory review before finalizing the booking. Theft by deception adds a separate and independent layer. Under OCGA section 1683, obtaining property through a false impression is a distinct criminal offense. Selling merchandise stolen from Walmart to GameStop while presenting it as legitimately owned property satisfies that statute directly and generates a separate set of penalties. Officers also correctly notified the subject of a potential jailbased charge under OCGA section 1652. Knowingly bringing contraband across a guard line into any detention facility is an independent criminal offense that stands entirely apart from all prior charges. The handling of the subject's medical needs was constitutionally sound. The eth and 14th amendments impose a mandatory duty on custodians to address the known medical needs of people in their custody. Officers identified the wound, offered emergency services, documented the voluntary refusal, and administered first aid. That sequence meets the legal standard. One exchange regarding the magnetic security key raised questions about evidence documentation. A supervisor was appropriately consulted. Any ambiguity in an evidence chain must be resolved through transparent documentation before booking to protect both the integrity of the case and the officers involved. The lead arresting officer receives a B+. The pursuit was lawful. The force was proportionate under Graham versus Connor and post arrest processing was professional and medically attentive. The minor deduction reflects the evidence handling discussion which required supervisory intervention rather than clear standard procedure from the outset. >> All right, squeeze that while I get you some actual band-aids. Right. >> This has a thing on. >> So cut it. >> I don't have my knife. >> And my knife is not good enough to cut it. >> It's a tiny one. >> Sorry. >> Little knife. Hey, >> my boss wants to know if you want if you're willing to talk to him if he comes out here came about. What happened? >> Oh, I said stand by. >> He said he doesn't care. Grab the grab. I'll grab one. And then we were trying to save. >> You got bare fingers. You want to start these for me and then I'll finish it. >> I know. I'm wearing gloves. So, >> actually, this one should be pretty new. It's one of these newer ones. Thank you. So, first we're going to do the stingy part, right? Get it good and clean. And then I'm going to put the band-aids on. That's going to hurt. >> You need a bag to put stuff in like just put just like stuff in the front of the jail. >> Kyle, do you mind grabbing a bag? >> It's okay. Hey, Kyle's grabbing one. He's closer. >> I prefer the envelope because it plain. Yes. >> Stick your thumb out nice and straight. And then this other one's going to actually go on the back of your arm with a taser prong head. All right. So, if you turn back around, face that way for me. >> It was already sore in it. I walked up the other day when I woke up. Okay. All right, Becky, if you'd unlock. Yes, sir. >> Have a seat. Face out towards me. Kick your shoes off for me. So Jamie Jamie, >> a little bit Jamie, you know what? I'm going to go in there and are you just scared that people or was it a >> Does that trick work? >> Nice try. I'm assuming that's to try and keep your feet fresh. >> Yeah, >> my feet. I think my feet sweating. >> Well, I think all our feet are sweating right now. >> That's what happens when we go on a run. >> You might have saved me a little bit of a workout when I get home tonight, but only a little bit. >> Give me this foot. Wiggle your toes for me. >> Does that one not come out? >> No. You need to wear looser shoes. >> Push. >> Give me that foot. push. >> All right, you can slide those back on >> as best you can and then go ahead and get all the way in. >> I have no idea. or 25. >> All right. When we get to the jail, because we found drugs and stuff on you, they're going to give you a really good search. Is there anything on you that we have missed that I have not located? Cuz if we get to the jail and we find anything else, not only do you get that charge, but you get an extra charge of crossing a guard line. >> All right. >> Yeah. What I'll do, >> where were you born at? >> Is um is you going to have to like do the evidence back? >> Columbia, South Carolina. >> Columbus, South Carolina. >> I just count my dollar. >> Columbus, South Carolina. >> All right, watch your foot and we'll get the air turned up. >> That's the four pictures. All right, >> say what now? >> Um said $500. >> I said if it's less than 500, they won't even look at it >> for sure, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. But but for the purpose of evidence and like >> we was right there. >> So this is him picking it up and saving it. He has a key, a magnetic key. >> Mhm. >> So he comes over here and he gets the Y'all can't take that from him, can you? That's his personal property. >> The key. >> The key. Yeah, >> I don't think so. >> That's how he That's all the games that he sold prior. So he's taking the spider wrap off here and then he stages it there and he comes back. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. He only has two shopliftings. What are you needing it for? >> So, it's two theft by shoplifting, theft by deception, possession of a schedule two um and obstruction >> for the fentanel. >> Yeah, he the games that he stole from Walmart, he took to GameStop and sold them. that too. Yeah, that's on there. Yeah. No, it's already exported and printed for you. Mhm. >> Y'all get the key from >> No, I don't know if we can take it from him. Logically, I feel like >> I mean that's how that's how he steal it. >> Yeah. But because it's personal property that >> but it's also a fruit of a crime. That's why my LT's out there, he can he can make that decision. >> Just take it and say that he didn't have it. He lost it in the room. >> Don't you say look? >> Yeah. No, she showed me. That's just some >> I was in the middle of typing up the report for the 21st and then she called me and she was like, "Hey, he's here right now." And I was like, "Oh shit." Okay. He was he was looking at me. I'm back there. I'm like, "Oh [ __ ] that's him. That's him. That's him. Uh, Bill, pull up 21." No, 19. Yeah, that's him. And he looking dead at like [ __ ] He couldn't go. He didn't go. >> Yeah, he was. >> He ran from us and he got tased for it. So, >> dumb game prizes. >> So, I'm going to look back. I don't have it yet, but I'm going to look back cuz you said that he sold stump sold on the 21st. So, then that would make it a felony, right? If it's three, >> he has to be Well, >> Cook said if it was three days, >> it has to be shoplifting. Well, no, today would make it the third. Yeah. >> Yeah, >> but I don't have the report for the other day yet. >> Mhm. But >> give up. They only charge me to give us a >> They'll have it done before you leave. >> No. Okay. >> Well, I mean, even without you guys' report, since that's going to be in the report for the 21st, like I'm just bundling all together. That is three. So, that would be a felony. >> Yeah. >> So, >> cool. How much was that? I'm going to go change his booking report real quick. >> Yes. 80. >> This is 84. I don't know how many he stole on the >> the 21st. >> I think you told me 10. >> No, the 22. >> The 22nd was the was 10, >> but then you said that GameStop said he came in on the 21st and sold some. So, I have to find >> I think that's just me getting the dates mixed up. They said pretty much as soon as he left Walmart on their records, right after he left Walmart is when he sold them. So it'll be the 22nd, not the 21st. >> But they they told me that he had been coming in doing it >> on other things, >> but they just didn't tell me what days cuz I just about the 22nd. >> Yeah. I talked to the manager. He said the only thing that they have on record worth reporting was that day when he took the 10. >> Okay. >> That shows GameStop selling though. He took I think it was like $190. You only got 50 bucks for it. >> Really? Day of thumb. I guess >> you should just throw it on the street. >> So, I don't think you need to look for the 21st. >> Just the 22nd, the day that you >> Okay. I got We got that one. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I'll email that one to you. >> I was getting ready to do that and then all that happened. >> I still think it would count as three though because he >> came out, stole it, left, >> did his thing, came back again, stole more, >> and then today. >> Okay. I'm going to call >> I just put a man in that's one. >> I mean in your system that's fine. That's why I said I'm going to call my sergeant cuz they might count as two >> cuz he needed to stop. >> He left the store completely and then came back. So it might be >> okay. Um then yeah I will make that call real quick. Do you guys need anything else from me? Um, you do you have a case for >> the subject receives a D. Every escalating consequence in this encounter, from the taser deployment to the obstruction charge to the injuries sustained crossing barbed wire, resulted directly from the decision to flee. The fentinel compounded what was already a serious legal situation significantly. Before closing, this footage illustrates five lessons drawn directly from the statutes and case law triggered during this encounter. Each one grounded in real legal consequence, not theory. Lesson one, flight from a lawful police encounter is never legally neutral. It strengthens the basis for pursuit under Illinois versus WLLO, satisfies the obstruction element under OCG A16 10 24 and guarantees that the charge count at the end of the encounter is heavier than it was at the start. Lesson two, possessing a controlled substance while committing another crime dramatically compounds legal exposure. A misdemeanor theft case beside a schedule. two felony possession charge under OCG A16 13 becomes a multi-count felony prosecution that prosecutors and judges treat with substantially greater seriousness. Lesson three, the method used to commit retail theft carries significant legal weight. Using a device specifically designed to defeat anti- theft systems demonstrates advanced planning and criminal intent. Courts treat that level of premeditation far more seriously than unplanned opportunistic shoplifting and it directly affects the charges filed. Lesson four, reselling stolen property is not an extension of the original theft under OCGA1683. It is a separate criminal offense. Each transaction after the initial theft generates an independent theft by deception charge with its own distinct penalties. Lesson five. Medical care in custody is a constitutional obligation, not a courtesy. The eth and 14th amendments compel it. Officers met that standard in this footage. Failure to provide adequate care to someone in custody generates direct civil liability under section 1983 of the US code. If this analysis helped clarify the legal framework behind what you saw in this footage, subscribe to our channel for more in-depth legal breakdowns of real body cam interactions published regularly.