Friday, March 1, 2019

Walmart Crime Report February 2019



Walmart had at least twelve shootings this month, five of them fatal. (This was initially reported with only ten; however, another report came in a day late about a shooting taking place on February 27; and an additional fatal shooting at Sam's Club was also added, bringing the total to twelve with five of them fatal.) There were also four officer involved shootings, including three of the fatal ones; and the person killed in the fourth shooting is being treated like a suspect, implying it might have been self defense, or gang related.

One of the fatal officer involved shootings resulted from an argument between off-duty U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and an African American combat veteran in Georgia. The official explanation is that the victim pointed a BB gun at the ICE officer from within his car, and the officer got out firing one fatal shot. No charges are being filed, because they claim he couldn't have known it was an airgun. One of the other officer involved shootings killed a man who had already shot two officers, one working off duty security for Walmart. There's still no public discussion about potential conflicts of interests with Walmart hiring off-duty police officers as security, which is usually based on state laws. It seems to be far more common in the South.

One of the other officer involved shootings involved a theft suspect that rammed a cruiser and almost hit a police officer before they killed the driver causing a crash injuring two of his passengers, one critically. Another one started out as a brawl within the store then led to a shooting outside.



There were only half a dozen other gun related crimes on the premises, this month which is unusually low, assuming there weren't more that didn't turn up in searches; and one of them was only a BB gun and another was a flare gun. One of the incidents with a real gun involved a carjacking.

In addition to the five people killed in shootings there were another four killed in other incidents, bringing the total amount of deaths to nine, including a driver that was killed in a crash with a Walmart Semi on the highway and three bodies that were found in the parking lot or a pond nearby. The two found in a truck were both employees, which the police initially said "doesn't appear to be suspicious" before rephrasing it saying that no foul play was suspected. The final autopsy results claim that they died of carbon dioxide poisoning. They routinely refer to bodies found on the premises, which often turn out to be homeless people or drug addicts, as not being "suspicious;" however little or nothing is done to find out why there are so many of them and how to prevent them. There are some academic studies on it, I'm sure that they're not reported to the majority of the public by mainstream media, which is a for-profit organization, or used to base public policy decisions.

Poverty has been growing along with income inequality, and this is clearly a contributing factor to the problem, which is a result of public policy putting Wall Street firm, virtually above the law for their activities. There was also another death reported this month that took place last December, but didn't previously turn up in reports, until his widow sought answers; he was also a combat veteran. This is a reminder that some of these reports are minimums, even for the shootings or deaths, which you would expect to be reported more widely.

There were also a couple people employed by police departments that were caught stealing from Walmart, including one that was fired and a dispatcher. Police often face no charges when killing people but are still prosecuted when stealing minor things from Walmart. Police in Kansas gave a shoplifter a break, after hearing he had a terminally ill wife and was facing other problems driving him to desperation, despite demands from Walmart that they prosecute him, showing they're not all bad.

There was an incident where a woman went on a rampage after a return was refused pepper spraying people slamming a head against the wall and taking a hostage at knife-point. Police had to deal with several suicidal people, which is also becoming more common. Whether it's the dead bodies of suicides that are getting more common there's little doubt that part of the problem is a rigged economy designed to enrich the wealthy, that already have more money than they could ever spend, without taking care of social problems for the working class.

Walmart also had a couple more incidents with razors stuck in the cart handles, but they don't always warn customers why this is happening, even though they've known about if for years. They're put there to cut packaging when shoplifting products, and it happens a lot. Employees often say it's happened before but management does little or nothing to warn customers or try to stop it.

Walmart had a dozen or so crashes, chases, hi-and-runs or other automotive incidents. The vast majority of fender benders almost certainly never get much attention and aren't reported here; but one victim of a hit-and-run published a note to the perpetrator in the local newspaper. Many of the chases are often a result of shoplifting incidents, with another one almost running over a police officer, this time without any shots being fired.

They had over half a down knife attacks resulting in at least two stabbings, and several threats, including against employees. While the people in the corporate office keep all the profits as a result of corner cutting, it's the local employees who are at risk when theses crimes get out of hand. In at least one case it was an ex-employee who pulled a knife on a former co-worker, and another one was an attempted kidnapping of his girlfriend.

There was only one arson, in addition to the vehicle fire this month, which must be the fewest fires they've had in years. They still have people going out with entire carts full of merchandise, including one group of thieves that may have stolen close to $90,000 worth of merchandise, if not more, before finally getting caught. Another incident involved a thief who took a hammer to a jewelry case. There's little or no consideration to the fact that jewelry has little or no practical value, it's mostly hype, yet a significant amount of police resources are devoted to catching jewelry thieves. There were also several fights and a fleeing theft suspect that knocked over two elderly people.

Bernie Sanders has called out Walmart for their paid leave policies, saying it's only a small step forward. He also repeated a claim that the Walton family makes more money in one minute than a Walmart worker makes in an entire year. The Washington Post fact checked this claim, and found it to be true, and since Walton family income is investment income it's taxed at a lower rate and they don't have to contribute to Social Security fund!

This is just one more piece of evidence of how our economic system is being rigged for the benefit of the wealthy!

Walmart had at least four recalls this month including toys, frozen entrees, juice and veggies that might be contaminated with listeria. Many of these contamination's were far less common and smaller before they created a centralized food distribution network controlled by oligarchs. They also had a report exposing the fact that they've been faking reviews for their products on their web sites. They didn't catch people doing it but found a pattern of behavior that indicated they used the same methods on one review after another implying that they're clearly fake.

With all the talk about outsourcing and non-disclosure agreements; my best guess is that they hire people in India, or another low wage country, to make these reviews

Walmart's revolving door continues with executives coming and going from companies they're supposed to be competing with including Amazon, and media outlets that are supposed to report news, including epidemic levels of fraud from many corporations, but they're for profit organizations and get their money from advertising by those often involved in the fraud.

Walmart changed their policies with little or no notice again eliminating jobs as greeters, that are often handicapped, causing an enormous outrage, again! you would think they would learn, but they keep doing things like this, presumably because they realize they have support from politicians even if their customers, workers and even voters, are often outraged with them. A mother also found beg bugs in their store, and a priest bought a pillow online before realizing it was decorated with a swastika on it; as usual they pulled it after the fact, without realizing they were selling it.

The city of Beavercreek Ohio is still shoveling out massive amounts of money for shooting John Crawford four years ago; they've already paid out $600K of tax payer money, for "protecting" them.

One shoplifting extortion case was dismissed this month by the courts, but another lawsuit was filed, by a mother who was treated like a dangerous criminal after, what might have been a misunderstanding at the self-check out lane while she was dealing with her kids. Supposedly the police officer didn't see the problem on the video, but had to arrest her anyway, because Walmart instead on it over a very minor amount. they save money on employees, then after shoplifting as a result of self-check-out lanes inevitably lead to an enormous amount of theft and mistakes, they use that savings to spy on people so they can catch them shoplifting which is virtual entrapment. This has been a massive problem for years, if not decades; yet instead of admitting that self-checkout is more trouble than it's worth and eliminating them they keep using it and even experiment with more automated shopping methods, leading to more theft.

They also offend an enormous number of people with their requests for receipts, even if they head directly from the check out out the door to their car. One shopper said they're not legally required to show receipts, and a California Newspaper fact checked this claim and found that it's true, but many lawyers recommend that they show it anyway just to avoid trouble.

Walmart came up with a supposedly massive "Baby Savings Day" and issued a press report which newspapers across the country reported in the form of an article that seemed to look like a news story, but it was obviously coordinated with Walmart. Customers were outraged when they found that there were little or no savings, one customer said she was told by an employee that it was a "media hoax" which seems to be close, but it was clearly something Walmart executives must have come up with. The media may not be credible anymore, but they're not creating hoaxes like this without approval of Walmart. It is another indication that the truth is a commodity in for-profit media though, and that consumer reports, or business articles, can't be trusted from the media any more than Walmart's fake reviews.



Walmart had another incident where they were shut down because a bird of some sort, got into the store and they had to evacuate it. And, a man stealing a key lime pie wound up breaking a freezer door; I guess he's a natural born Key lime pie lover. They also closed several stores across the country this month or next, yet they were only reported at the local level.

An Ex-Walmart exec says theft helped kill Walmart's new cashierless checkout technology, as if this is a major surprise! Before they came up with this technology they had to know that Self-check-out was causing enormous amounts of problems and to expand this to even more methods for people to get out without paying is guaranteed to create more problems with people waling out with entire shopping carts full of merchandise!

These incidents lead to dozens of shootings, car chases, knife attacks and more ever year, which is what they might call "negative externalities" which means that as long as it doesn't reduce profits, Walmart isn't going to try to reform their practices, even though it's clearly contributing to their high crime problems.

Walmart is supposedly trying to "rebrand" itself as the most trusted company in America now that Amazon is getting so much flack for using monopoly tactics.

Do they really think anyone is stupid enough to believe that?

We have a massive propaganda industry that's trying to indoctrinate as many people as possible; and it's accompanied by efforts to gut the education system, including by privatizing it with increased use of Charter Schools



Strange things happen at Walmart!





In 2006 Wake Up Walmart did a study, "Is Walmart Safe?" based on incidents in 2004, (PDF) about crime at Wal-Mart which showed that it increased when Walmarts opened up and that crime was higher at Walmart than at other retailers. Since then Walmart Shootings began compiling a list of gun related incidents at Wal-Mart and demonstrated that they have a large number of them, including on average more than one shooting per week somewhere in the country. In January of 2014 another study, "Rolling Back Prices and Raising Crime Rates?" provided additional statistical research indicating that Wal-Mart might be contributing to higher crime rates or at least a slowing of the decline in crime. The study found that. “on average, communities with Walmarts had 17 more property crimes and two more violent crimes per 10,000 people than those communities without Walmarts.” I reviewed this more in Walmart’s crime problem, Rolling Back Safety more than prices? where I explained that although this study is helpful they could have done better with additional data that is available and I reviewed some of that. I also added my own review about why I think that Walmart policies have been contributing to higher crime in a previous blog, Walmart high crime rate continues un-investigaterd and have provided additional information under the author tag Walmart Crime Watch.

Stacy Mitchell has also compiled a list of other studies about Walmart and how they impact society, Key Studies on Big-Box Retail & Independent Business. To the best of my knowledge Walmart has done as little as they seem to get away with, often relying on rhetoric that isn't backed up with action, when it comes to addressing any of their critics concerns, including crime. One of the responses they’ve come up with is what they call "Restorative Justice" which gives first time shoplifters a chance to avoid being arrested or any criminal record if they take an on line course which costs $400 up front or $500 in payments, plus perhaps, reparations. This has been part of the privatization process and often denies suspects of the due process or access to a lawyer, perhaps even intimidating and extorting from some people that might not even be guilty. Walmart seems to be trying to find a way to turn crime into a profit making situation instead of looking for the most effective ways to reduce it. Making Change at Walmart is asking If you or someone you know has gone through @Walmart's "Restorative Justice" program for first-time suspected shoplifters, send us a DM. 03/30/2017 to ensure that it isn’t doing more harm than good. I did my own review of this program as well at Walmart’s “Restorative Justice” Endangers Public Without Reducing Crime. The following are a list of incidents that occurred in February 2019. According to the "Is Walmart Safe?" the average store in their sampling had 250 incidents per year, indicating that these are only a fraction of the crime reports at Walmart, and presumably, the ones most likely to make the news on the internet nationwide. This isn't statistically representative, as the 2006 or the "Rolling Back Prices and Raising Crime Rates?" study or some of the studies cited by Stacy Mitchell; but it does provide some additional information that may help recognize how many problems there are at Walmart.





Does the Walton family earn more in a minute than Walmart workers do in a year? 02/19/2019

St. Tammany Parish La. School Board speaks out regarding member's shoplifting charges 02/01/2019

El Paso Tx. PD identifies officer, suspect involved in Jan. 2019 shooting outside Lower Valley Walmart 02/01/2019

Man breaks freezer door; steals key lime pie from Fenton Missouri Walmart 02/01/2019

FENTON, Mo. – St. Louis County police arrested a man last weekend after allegedly breaking a glass freezer door and stealing a key lime pie at the Walmart in Gravois Bluffs.

Store employees told police they watched 28-year-old Zachary Maurer walk towards the frozen food section last Saturday night, open a freezer door, grab the key lime pie, and then slam the door shut, shattering the glass.

Police investigating the scene found an empty key lime pie box in the next aisle.

Officers patrolling the area found Maurer with what appeared to be a white food substance on his mustache, hoodie, and pants, and said he also smelled like key lime pie. Complete article He's a naturally born key lime pie lover! 😊😂🤣😜


Fla. Walmart thieves strike pedestrian during getaway, officers say 02/01/2019

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - A man and a woman suspected of stealing from a Walmart took off from the store -- and in the parking lot, hit a pedestrian with their car, police said.

The suspected theft took place at about 7:40 p.m. Friday, according to the Fernandina Beach Police Department.

"As suspicion of their actions grew and associates began to watch them, (the pair) became anxious and fled the store," officers said.

The woman was believed to be driving when the couple hit the pedestrian. That person was taken to a hospital for treatment. Complete article

Police: Warrants issued in Fla. Walmart theft, crash 02/11/2019

Police said arrest warrants were issued for Erica Felder, 26, of Jacksonville. The first warrant is on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and the second is on a charge of leaving the scene, police said. The bond amount total is more than $65,000.


Hartselle Alabama police ask public to help identify Walmart theft suspect 02/01/2019

KY. WALMART MEAT THEFT LEADS TO ARREST OF ONE 02/01/2019

Woman with children seen panhandling at Cape Coral Walmart charged with having false ID 02/01/2019 Calin, holding a sign saying she needed money for her children, told police she was from Romania. She did not have a city-issued permit for soliciting, police said. (Wealthy people rig the economic system in their favor; therefore, poor people are born criminals.)

Fraudulent Check At New Lenox Ill. Walmart: Complaint 02/01/2019

Niles police: Woman charged with pushing elderly shopper at Ill. Walmart 02/01/2019

Chelmsford Mass. police arrest man accused of exposing himself inside Walmart 02/02/2019

Call Kurtis Investigates: Customers Demand Ca. Walmart To Stop Locking Up Black Hair Care Products 02/03/2019

Fight inside Adamsville Alabama Walmart leads to shot fired outside; 2 arrested 02/03/2019

Two men were arrested after a fight inside a Jefferson County Walmart led to a shot fired outside the store.

The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Adamsville store. Adamsville police Chief Warren Cotton said two men got into a physical altercation which then spilled over to the outside.

One of the men went to his car, retrieved a gun and fired a shot. Cotton said he doesn’t know if the shot was fired in the air or at another person but said no one was injured.

Investigators heard the altercation may have started over a woman, but also heard it may have stemmed from a dispute over a ball game. They are still trying to determine the origin. Complete article


Wichita Falls Tx. PD: Man in custody after officer-involved shooting at Central Freeway Walmart 02/03/2019

WICHITA FALLS, TX (TNN) - Wichita Falls Police say a man is in custody after he tried to flee from them and was shot by officers Sunday morning.

Police were called to the Walmart on Central Freeway at around 6:45 on reports that a stolen Honda Civic was spotted in the parking lot.

Officers approached the car to find a man sitting in it. The suspect struck a patrol car with the stolen Honda Civic in what police say was an apparent attempt to flee the area.

WFPD officers at the scene say an officer was standing behind the car when it began to reverse at a high rate of speed. The officer was not injured in the incident.

Sergeant Harold McClure says police shot at the suspect, who continued to flee despite being struck by at least one round. Complete article

New charge added to man shot by police in Walmart incident 02/15/2019


Driver killed in crash with Walmart semi on U.S. 40 near State Road 75 Ind. 02/02/2019

STILESVILLE -- A pickup truck driver was fatally injured Saturday night in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 40 at the cut-through between State Roads 240 and 75. On Sunday, the victim was identified as Suzanne Anderson, 71, of Greencastle.

The accident occurred in dense fog about 8 p.m. Saturday as a Walmart semi with trailer was pulling out of the shortcut section between U.S. 40 and State Road 240 onto U.S. 40, just west of Stilesville, when it collided with the westbound pickup truck... Complete article


Oregon Man Hits Walmart Customer in Head With Airsoft Gun, Floods Store After Breaking Water Pipes: Police 02/04/2019

man in Bend, Oregon, was arrested early Sunday after allegedly embarking on a drug and drink fueled crime spree that saw him carjack a vehicle, rob a cab driver, attack an elderly man with an Airsoft gun and flood a local Walmart.

On Saturday night at about 9.30 p.m., Bend resident Aaron Rife called 911 to report that he had been carjacked by a man who had demanded he take him into downtown Bend, The Bend Bulletin reported Sunday citing a police statement.

Police claim the man who got in the vehicle was Jared Allen Lake, 33.

Rife told NewsChannel21 that he had just picked up dinner at a local restaurant when Lake jumped in his car.

"He said he couldn't wait, he had to get downtown right away or his roommate was going to lock him out or something. So I figured at that point, without knowing if he had a weapon on him or not, I should just kind of go with it and not provoke him,” he told the network.

Shortly after, a local cab firm called police to report that a driver, Nick Nelson, had picked up Lake in downtown Bend, and alleged that Lake had pulled a knife out and demanded that he hand over money.

Nelson told cops that Lake had got out of the vehicle at a local 24-hour Walmart, making off with an undisclosed sum of money. Complete article


Man threatening to shoot up Spanaway Wash. Walmart found in bathroom with 2 flare guns, knife 02/04/2019

A 52-year-old man threatening to shoot up a Walmart store in Spanaway was arrested in the store bathroom with two flare guns and a knife, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

He called 911 about 9:40 p.m. Saturday and told dispatchers he was in the children’s section of Walmart and planned to “start shooting people with a flare gun,” sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

Dispatchers kept the man on the phone while deputies responded, and could hear the man asking an employee where the flare guns were kept. The man hung up after saying he’d acquired several flare guns and was heading to the hunting section. ....

Two flare guns, eight projectile flares, a knife and a 12 gauge buckshot shotgun shell were found under two pairs of pants he was wearing, Troyer said. Complete article


Man charged in stabbing at east Erie Pa. Walmart 02/03/2019

A man suffered a stab wound to his back and was taken to UPMC Hamot for treatment.

Erie police took a 29-year-old city man into custody Saturday afternoon in their investigation of a stabbing at the Walmart at 2711 Elm St.

Ryan S. Czuwara, of the 2200 block of McCain Avenue, was arraigned Saturday night by Erie 5th Ward District Judge Paul Bizzarro on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and harassment, and was placed in the Erie County Prison on $25,000 bond.

Officers were called to the east Erie store at 5:22 p.m. to investigate a reported stabbing, which occurred in the store ’s frozen food section, police reported. Complete article


Crews Battle Vehicle Fire in Roseville Ca. Walmart Parking Lot 02/03/2019

ROSEVILLE — Flames took over three vehicles Sunday in a Roseville Walmart parking lot.

The Roseville Fire Department reports crews responded to the blaze on Pleasant Grove Boulevard around 6:30 p.m. .....

The Roseville Police Department has launched an investigation into the fire and will be looking at footage captured by Walmart’s surveillance cameras to uncover what may have caused the blaze. Complete article


Accused shoplifter with terminally ill wife gets break from cops at Kansas Walmart 02/03/2019

When police caught up with a man suspected of shoplifting from a Westwood, Kan., Walmart store last weekend, they found out there was more to the man’s story than some stolen merchandise.

The man, accused of walking away from the store with some cold medicine, diapers, and other items, had a terminally ill wife at home, and a young son with special needs.

He was in an especially difficulty spot at that moment, with the store insisting he be charged for the alleged theft and a separate warrant out for his arrest in Lenexa.

But, as the Westwood Police Department explained in a Facebook post this weekend, police officers from four local departments found a way to cut the man a break. Complete article


Walmart Busts Joliet Ill. Woman For Stealing: JPD 02/03/2019

Columbia County Ga. Sheriff's Office looking for Walmart shoplifting suspect 02/04/2019

Jasper Ind. police search for Walmart theft suspect 02/03/2019

Raleigh County man arrested in MacArthur WV Walmart parking lot on drug and firearm charges 02/03/2019 Spencer was previously convicted of felony crimes of violence against a person, making him a prohibited possessor of firearms. He was arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine and being a Prohibited Possessor of a Firearm.

Woman arrested on felony burglary, falsifying business records charges at NY Walmart 02/04/2019 Woman arrested on felony burglary, falsifying business records charges at Walmart

Clarion Pa. Wal-Mart Closed For Investigation Of Bomb Threat 02/04/2019

After complaints, Ca. Walmart unlocks hair care products 02/05/2019

Salinas Ca. Walmart evacuated due to bomb threat 02/04/2019

Police search for answers after body is found behind Ozark Alabama Walmart 02/04/2019

OZARK, Ala. (WDHN) — Police are searching for clues to try to determine what caused a man to be found dead in a pond over the weekend.

Ozark Police and the Dale County Sheriff's office responded to a call early Sunday morning that a body was seen in a small pond behind the Ozark Walmart near Stratford apartments.

"When law enforcement and medical personnel arrived on scene, they did come into contact with a deceased white male," Ozark police Chief Marlos Walker said.

The victim's body is currently in possession of the Department of Forensics Sciences in Montgomery. His autopsy should be complete within the next 48 hours.

"This process will help us determine if it was some type of natural (cause) or some type of crime that was committed against this person," Walker said. Complete article


‘No one came to help us’ – Customers attacked by disgruntled customer inside NJ Walmart 02/04/2019

NORTH BERGEN - A Bronx woman is facing charges after she allegedly went on a rampage and attacked several people inside of a Walmart in Hudson County.

The attack happened Sunday afternoon inside the Walmart on 88th Street in North Bergen.

Carolyn Cuellar tells News 12 New Jersey that she and her mother Maria were shopping at the store Sunday after just having lunch. She says that she was at the customer service desk when she was assaulted by another woman in what appears to be a random attack.

“I felt my head hit the wall and all I remember feeling was panic, like ‘She’s trying to kill me,’” Cuellar says.

North Bergen police say that 39-year old Imani Jones was at the Walmart trying to return some clothing. But her request was refused. That's when police say that she pushed the register on to an employee and pepper-sprayed three employees, Cuellar, her mother and another customer.

Carolyn Cuellar suffered a concussion when Jones allegedly grabbed her and slammed her head against the wall inside the Walmart. Complete article

Woman at NJ Walmart Goes on Rampage With Pepper Spray, Knife: Police, Video 02/05/2019 After Cuellar managed to get away, the woman pulled out a six-inch knife and barricaded herself inside the package room, holding an employee inside hostage.


Former Prattville Alabama police officer arrested again, accused of stealing from Walmart 02/04/2019

PRATTVILLE, AL (WSFA) - A former Prattville police officer on community corrections release was reportedly caught stealing at the Millbrook Walmart.

According to court documents, prosecutors are asking for John McDaniel, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to several felony charges involving insurance fraud, to be removed from the community corrections program. In the community corrections program, defendants may serve their time outside of prison or jail but are held to stringent conditions and supervision, and upon any failure to comply are subject to immediately being sent to jail or prison.

In the court documents prosecutors argue McDaniel failed to meet the conditions necessary to remain on release when on Jan. 18 he stole multiple items from the Walmart in Millbrook. According to the court documents, loss-prevention employees tried to stop him after they saw McDaniel concealing the items, but he refused to comply. He was reportedly captured on video leaving the store and a warrant was issued for his arrest on Friday. He was arrested Monday. Complete article


Walmart customers help Carlsbad NM police arrest intoxicated shoplifter 02/04/2019

Walmart customers helped law enforcement Sunday during the arrest of a shoplifter.

Mickey Taylor, 37, of San Angelo, Texas, allegedly stole a bottle of Crown Royal from the store and drank it and attempted to steal a cellphone, according to police records.

Both items were valued at a total of $62.

“We’re thankful for the citizens there that helped out,” said Carlsbad Police Spokesperson Det. Lt. Jaime Balencia.

Cpl. Trey Thompson was dispatched to Walmart on Sunday around 3:15 p.m. regarding an intoxicated subject.

Thompson attempted to speak to Taylor, but warned him he would use non-lethal force if necessary. ....

“The male then ran north around Walmart back toward the gas pumps,” Thompson said in the report. “Walmart customers and civilians took the male subject to the ground. I was able to place the male subject into custody.” Complete article


Former Walmart executive Rosalind Brewer joins Amazon board 02/04/2019

Rosalind Brewer, currently a top Starbucks executive and board member, brings the number of women on Amazon's board to four. She is the second African American woman on the company's board.

Amazon tapped former Walmart and current Starbucks executive Rosalind G. Brewer for its board of directors.

Brewer, 56, became Starbucks’ chief operating officer and Americas group president in October 2017 after joining the Seattle coffee giant’s board in March of that year. She previously spent 11 years at Walmart, a top Amazon competitor, rising to chief executive of its membership warehouse business, Sam’s Club. Brewer was named one of the most powerful women in business last year by Fortune magazine.

Brewer, who was appointed to Amazon’s leadership development and compensation committee, was elected to fill the board seat vacated by John Seely Brown, who did not stand for reelection last year. Amazon’s entire board stands for reelection at its May annual meeting. Complete article

Amazon, Walmart may be starting a shipping war. FedEx, UPS will need to keep up or get shut out. 02/05/2019

Flipkart founder says he's 'moved on' after Walmart ouster 02/05/2019

Walmart is facing obstacles overseas 02/05/2019

Board member Sarah Friar: Walmart will be a great company for the next 100 years 02/03/2019

How Bezos and Walmart Lose Out to Billionaire Ambani in India 02/05/2019

How Kmart Went From Beating Walmart And Target To Bankruptcy 02/07/2019

Ex-Walmart exec says 'fairy-tale'-like Amazon Go won't win the future of retail 02/09/2019


Man In Walmart Clothing Accused Of Trying To Steal Laundry Detergent, Alcohol, TV Dinners at Arkansas Walmart 02/05/2019

Deputies: Suspects stole cash from Fla. Walmart 02/04/2019

Two men arrested at Wash. Walmart 02/05/2019

Louisiana State Police arrested three men found with 25 stolen Walmart giftcards in their vehicle 02/04/2019

A former Cody Wy. Walmart employee man gets probation for stealing TVs, food from Walmart 02/04/2019

Blotter: Man steals clothes from NC Walmart, tries to return them for money 02/0/2019

Ky. Walmart Drug Arrests 02/04/2019

Auburn NY woman pleads guilty to Walmart burglary 02/06/2019

Police searching for individual involved in Walmart incident in Westerly RI 02/05/2019

44,000 Fisher-Price Barbie Power Wheels Sold At Walmart Recalled 02/05/2019

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Fisher-Price is recalling 44,000 Children’s Power Wheels Barbie Dream Campers.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said the Power Wheels can continue to run after the foot pedal is released, posing an injury to a child. Complete article


Bernie Sanders blasts Walmart's new employee-leave policy 02/05/2019

Walmart is restructuring its time-off policy.

But the move isn't "enough" for Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He's calling on the retail giant to revamp its minimum wage in addition to its rules around leave.

"Walmart, which is owned by the wealthiest family in America, is not a poor company," Sanders said in a statement. "If Walmart can afford $20 billion for stock buybacks to enrich wealthy shareholders, it can afford to raise the pay of all its workers to a living wage. Walmart can and must pay all of its workers at least $15 an hour with good benefits."

Under the new system, Walmart employees will get six days of "protected PTO" for emergencies and illnesses every year. Every six months, employees will also accrue a pool of five days to use for unexpected absences. The company's vacation policy will not change. Complete article


Fresno priest finds swastika symbol on pillow purchased online at Walmart 02/05/2019

FRESNO, California - Fresno Priest Ryan Newman is upset after Walmart sent him a decorative pillow with images of hate.

Newman purchased the pillow on Walmart's website, he got the pillow in the mail, opened it up and threw it on his couch. He didn't think anything of it, until a few days ago, when he was sitting on the couch with his wife and daughter, he noticed the swastika images.

"I was shocked and than shocked moved into anger. I was like how can this happen, how can this be, how could this get through the Walmart buying channels," Newman said. Complete article

Walmart pulls Nazi pillow from website 02/06/2019


Note to hit-and-run driver at Utah Walmart 02/04/2019

To the editor:

To the person with a high vehicle that gave our 2011 Gray Nissan Rogue a “friendly” tap on the right passenger door about 10:30 a.m. in the north Walmart parking lot on Friday Feb. 2, 2019, It would have been nice for you to leave a note, at least apologizing for your misdeed. Repairs will be $2,190.36 and we would appreciate your help. Please contact the North Logan Police Department.

Gary Wangsgard

North Logan Complete article


Oglethorpe Ga. woman caught stealing food at Walmart 02/06/2019

Power outage at Minn. Walmart 02/05/2019

Woman arrested for DUI, open container outside Post Falls Wash. Walmart 02/05/2019

Woman admits selling Mexican Meth in Kansas Walmart parking lot 02/06/2019

Theresa woman accused of shoplifting, trespass at LeRay NY Walmart 02/05/2019

Five-year prison sentence for Fall River Mass. man guilty of Walmart assaults 02/05/2019

Suspected theft from Piqua Ohio Walmart leads to drug bust 02/06/2019

Man Shot Outside Van Buren Township Mich. Walmart 02/06/2019

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich. (WWJ) -- An investigation is underway in Wayne County after a man was shot in a Walmart parking lot Tuesday night.

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. at the Walmart on Belleville Road in Van Buren Township.

According to police, two people were involved in an "unlawful transaction" when one "bad guy shot another bad guy."

WWJ listener Raluca Williams was shopping when the victim ran in the grocery and pharmacy entrance to seek help. She said it appeared the man had been shot in the chest. Employees inside the Walmart cut his clothes off to administer aid before an ambulance arrived, she said. Complete article


Accused shoplifter arrested for pepper spraying officer at Pinellas Park Fla. Walmart 02/06/2019

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (WFLA) - A fleeing shoplifter was arrested Tuesday for pepper spraying a loss prevention officer at a Pinellas Park Walmart, police say.

The alleged incident happened at the Walmart Supercenter on US Highway 19 around 9:30 p.m. Pinellas Park police say officers were called to the store around that time to investigate a report of a person concealing items in a backpack.

When a loss prevention officer was notified that the person was leaving the store without paying, he tried to confront the suspect inside the store's vestibule.

Police say the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Marvin Williams Jr., then took out a black canister and sprayed pepper spray in the officer's face. Complete article


Cleveland Ohio police dispatcher arrested for theft at Walmart 02/06/2019

CLEVELAND -- A Cleveland police dispatcher is accused of stealing from a local Walmart and claiming to be a police officer. The accused dispatcher denies the allegations.

The alleged incident was captured by surveillance video from above self-checkout register 45 at the Walmart on Brookpark Road in North Olmsted.

Police say just before 10:00 p.m. on January 22, John Haney III, walked up to purchase several items.

The video shows what appears to be Haney placing towels in a bag, then an employee walks over to help him scan the items.

According to a police report, a Walmart loss prevention officer observed him select one item and then place several more in the bag without scanning them. ..... According to report, when he is confronted by an employee, Haney "stated that he was a Cleveland Police Officer.” Complete article


Rogers Arkansas Walmart Conducting Pilot Test Of Electronic Shelf Labels, LED Strips 02/06/2019

(TB&P) — Consumers who purchase cereal at the Walmart Supercenter on Walnut Street in Rogers will see a new iteration of electronic shelf labels (ESL) that make price adjustments automatically as dictated by store management. It is one of two digital shelf label technologies being tested by the retail giant in Northwest Arkansas.

At Walmart Supercenter on Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers, the bread and baked goods aisle also has digital shelf labels that look more like the paper version.

Walmart said this is a small test in concert with help from an outside partner. Walmart officials told Talk Business & Politics the company is testing two different types of shelf labels for the same concept which is to see if electronic shelf labels can be controlled through programming as quickly as price changes. The Pleasant Grove Road Supercenter is testing the electronic shelf labels to see if it saves time for employees and can provide accurate, real-time pricing for customers. Complete article


Family struggling after van stolen at Nebraska Walmart 02/06/2019

OMAHA, Neb. — It's common during cold winter months -- a spike in car thefts wherein many times, the car has been left running.

Police say it over and over: The freezing cold is no excuse to leave your car running unattended.

It's a lesson one growing Omaha family is learning the hard way. Now, they hope people listen and help them find their vehicle.

"I got to Walmart around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night. I walk in, grabbed juice, checked out through self-check out and walked out the door," Zaccheus Parker said.

But when he walked to where he parked his van in the Walmart parking lot near 36th Street and Saddle Creek Road, it was nowhere to be found. Complete article


Central Texas man accused of defrauding Walmart held without bond 02/06/2019

Southport NC police looking for ‘person of interest’ in Walmart theft 02/07/2019

3 escapees from Alexander Youth Services caught near Arkansas Walmart store 02/07/2019

Manchester Iowa Man Arrested for DUI in Walmart Parking Lot 02/06/2019

Employee charged with Minn. Walmart theft 02/06/2019

2 arrested on Mattoon Ill. Walmart burglary charges 02/06/2019

Suspect arrested after not appearing in court for Ky. Walmart shoplifting case 02/07/2019 The merchandise was worth a total of $30, according to officials. (It is routine for tax payers to spend at least three to four times, if not ten to twenty times, more than the value of shoplifted products in court, police and prison costs; it isn't routine to try to figure out why shoplifting increased significantly since the expansion of Big-Box stores cutting corners on employees making it easy for shoplifter to walk out with big and small items.)

Judge will wait for ballistics tests before ruling on bail of man charged in Sept. 2018 Ind. Walmart shooting 02/07/2019

Bartlett Tenn. police searching for woman accused of stealing iPhone from Walmart 02/07/2019

Thieves steal more than $12k in merchandise from Kewanee Ill. Walmart possibly close to $80,000 from Mich. Walmarts 02/07/2019

KEWANEE, Illinois — Police are looking for the thieves responsible for stealing more than $12,000 worth of items from Walmart.

In a Facebook post, police say the thefts happen early in the morning on Friday, Feb. 1. The suspects drive a late-model white Chevrolet Monte Carlo. They believe the car has possible damage to it.

Still shots from security cameras show the two men police believe are involved in the crime. One can be seen running out of the store with a gray bin full of goods.

Police said they believe the theft is connected to a longer string of crimes involving several Walmart locations in Michigan. They think the total amount of stolen goods is worth nearly $80,000. Complete article

2 wanted for stealing $11K in ink cartridges from Shelbyville Tenn. Walmart 02/08/2019


Ex-Walmart exec says theft helped kill Walmart's cashierless checkout technology 02/07/2019

A former Walmart executive said shopper theft was a major reason why the company killed Scan & Go, a cashierless-checkout technology, several months after expanding it to more than 100 stores.

"You think that the theft is bad on self-checkouts? Wait until you try Scan & Go, where nobody is watching the customers out in the aisles," said Joel Larson, a former Walmart senior manager who led Scan & Go as the head of checkout innovation before leaving the company in October.

A customer tried to leave a Walmart store with a cart filled with about 100 items, only 40 of which were scanned with Scan & Go, Larson said. Complete article


Berlin Township NJ police seek female suspect in hit-and-run in Walmart parking lot 02/07/2019

BERLIN TWP. – A female driver allegedly hit a car parked in a parking space on Wednesday afternoon, took off the front bumper then drove off, according to police.

Berlin Township police said the incident took place about noon in the parking lot of a Walmart store at 265 Route 73 South in West Berlin.

The suspect, whose photo was captured on surveillance video, was pulling out from a parking space and made contact with a parked vehicle, removing the front bumper of the victim’s car, police said. Complete article


Deputies searching for Fla. Walmart thief 02/08/2019

Walmart thief caught thanks to social media Cape Coral Fla. 02/07/2019

Man arrested at Walmart in Manning SC 02/07/2019

Retail bankruptcies and closures blow Walmart-sized hole in Columbia Center area 02/07/2019

Laredo woman accused of stealing children's clothing from Tx. Walmart allegedly gave officer fake name 02/07/2019

Maine dollar stores now outnumber Walmart, McDonald's, and Starbucks combined 02/07/2019

TRAFFIC ALERT: “Serious crash” near Highland Drive Jonesboro Arkansas Walmart 02/08/2019

Pair accused of stealing credit card from vehicle, using it at Ashland Va. Walmart 02/08/2019

Arizona mail carrier steals Walmart gift card from mail 02/08/2019

Autopsy reveals no foul play in death of man at Hickory NC Walmart 02/09/2019

Combat veteran arrested at Fla. Walmart, taken to jail, dies a day later. Widow seeks answers 02/08/2019

The widow of a combat-disabled veteran who died after being booked into the Brevard County Jail in December is calling for an independent investigation into her husband's death.

Kathleen Edwards says the sheriff's office has not responded fully to requests for information about her husband's death.

Gregory Lloyd Edwards, a 38-year-old army medic who served in Iraq and Kosovo, was arrested in West Melbourne about 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9. Officers had been called to Walmart Supercenter on Palm Bay Road to investigate reports of a man acting erratically and jumping into a truck packed with Christmas toys.

By 2:45 p.m. the same day, Brevard County Fire Rescue paramedics were called to the county jail. They found Edwards unconscious and without a pulse. He initially had been moved from booking to the jail’s medical building.

The Grant-Valkaria resident was then taken to Rockledge Regional Medical Center, where he was handcuffed to a bed, according to his widow, who stayed with him in the hospital. A photograph also shows him unconscious in a hospital bed, hooked to medical tubing.

Edwards and her attorney say Gregory Edwards' medical records show he had swelling of the brain and what appeared to be marks on his body, which the attorney believes may have been from a Taser. Complete article


Police activity at Colorado Springs Walmart parking lot 02/08/2019

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Police were called to a Colorado Springs Walmart parking lot Friday night on the report of a man in a car reportedly threatening to hurt himself.

The call came in after 9 p.m. at the 8th street Walmart. Police said the suspect, Andy Anderson, was suicidal and armed with knives in the parking lot. When officers tried to negotiate with the Anderson, he started using the knives to cut up his vehicle.

Shortly after that, the suspect drove his car toward the officers. Thankfully, no one was hurt but three police cruisers were damaged during the incident.

Officers were eventually able to arrest Anderson and he was later transported to Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Anderson was charged with Attempted Assault in the First Degree and was booked into El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. Complete article


Man arrested for robbery at Searcy Arkansas Walmart, police say 02/09/2019

SEARCY, AR (KAIT) - A White County man did not get far after an Arkansas Highway Patrol officer helped arrest him after the man was accused of robbing a Walmart Friday night at knifepoint, Searcy police said.

According to a media release from Police Chief Steve Hernandez, Eddie Ray Myers of Searcy was arrested Feb. 8 after Searcy police went to the Walmart Supercenter on East Race Avenue.

Hernandez said police received a call about an aggravated robbery around 7:20 p.m., Feb. 8.

“It was reported that a white male approached employees in the Money Center where he brandished a knife and demanded cash from the employee. The suspect then left the store,” Hernandez said. Complete article


Walmart Installs Security Gates At Thomasville NC Store 02/08/2019

THOMASVILLE, N.C. — You might notice something different on you're next trip to Walmart. They're working to up security.

The company installed security gates at a store in Thomasville. Walmart says they invested half a billion dollars on improving security nationwide. The new gates are a part of it.

Walmart says the gates help prevent theft, but you won't see them everywhere. Complete article


Northeast Florida women are taking on Walmart over gender equality 02/08/2019

Northeast Florida women are taking on Walmart over gender equality.

The women are suing the retail giant for alleged gender-pay and promotion discrimination.

Twelve of the nearly 100 Florida women listed in the lawsuit are from Northeast Florida.

“Really what we’re attacking is the culture of Walmart. The idea that men can advance very quickly and get hired and pay more,” Scott said. Complete article


Pedestrian struck with car outside Ga. Walmart 02/08/2019

A Calhoun man driving outside Walmart struck a pedestrian after failing to yield in the crosswalk area directly outside the store, police say.

According to Calhoun Police Department reports:

Basiliso Antonio Robleto Fonseca, 69, of 507 Harlan St., Calhoun, was arrested and charged with reckless conduct and failure to yield to a pedestrian in the walkway. Complete article


Three thieves seen taking two televisions and multiple other items from Tx. Walmart 02/08/2019

Suspect flees after snatching woman's purse in Gloucester Va. Walmart parking lot 02/08/2019

Police: Woman returns stolen goods at Ill. Walmart for refund 02/08/2019

State College Police looking for male and female accused of stealing from Pa. Walmart 02/08/2019

Walmart Worker Fired Over Medical Marijuana Wins Bias Suit 02/08/2019 Law360 (February 8, 2019, 7:22 PM EST) -- An Arizona federal judge chided Walmart Inc. for having a "'complete and bright line' disregard" for anti-discrimination protections in the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act when it fired an employee who has...

Two men face felony charges after allegedly stealing from Arnold Missouri Walmart, fleeing from police 02/08/2019

Crawford lawsuit against Beavercreek Ohio cop, Walmart to be tried together 02/10/2019

“I was literally about to go there,” Shooting at Del City Okla. Walmart rattles nerves in neighborhood 02/11/2019 Two officers, one of them working off-duty security, injured, suspect dead.

DEL CITY, Okla. - Two officers are recovering after they were shot inside a Del City Walmart over the weekend. The person who fired at them was killed during the altercation.

Police say it started at around 11 p.m. Saturday at the Walmart near SE 15th and Tinker Diagonal when an alleged shoplifter got caught by security.

"I was literally about to go there," said Emily Yannatone, who works nearby. ....

According to police, an alleged shoplifter inside Walmart was caught by security, and once Del City police showed up, some sort of shootout happened inside.

"Right now, it's currently under investigation. Right now, both officers are, and a one's an off-duty officer from another agency, and one's a Del City officer. He's been shot one time," said Major Ted Kleber with the Del City Police Department. Complete article

Police identify suspected shoplifter killed in shootout with officers at Del City Walmart 02/11/2019


Police say man kidnaps girlfriend at knifepoint in Sebastian Fla. Walmart parking lot 02/09/2019

SEBASTIAN — Police said a man bound his girlfriend's wrists and ordered her at knifepoint into his car in the parking lot of Walmart Thursday morning.

She escaped unharmed after the boyfriend drove to Micco, then circled back to Roseland and allowed her out of the car outside Home Depot. She sought help and police took the man into custody.

Johnathan Edwards, 32, who is homeless, was charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault domestic violence, two counts of battery domestic violence, and criminal mischief. He was being held Saturday at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $53,000 bail.

The incident began about 6 a.m. in the parking lot of Walmart, 2001 U.S. 1, when Edwards accused his girlfriend of infidelity, according to the affidavit. He threatened the woman with an X-acto knife, bound her wrists with zip ties and forced her into the back seat of his Saturn sport-utility vehicle, the affidavit states. Complete article


Man arrested after brandishing machete at Northwest D.C. Walmart 02/10/2019

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — A man was arrested Saturday after he walked inside a Walmart in Northwest D.C. and brandished a machete, police said.

Ismael Hernandez, 19, of no fixed address, has been charged with possessing a prohibited weapon.

According to police, Hernandez was walking southbound on Georgia Avenue, NW around 5:17 p.m. Saturday when he took a machete out of his waistband, walked inside the Walmart Supercenter at 5929 Georgia Avenue and brandished the weapon.

A video from eyewitness Curtis Mozie shows the man being held by police at the Walmart after Mozie said the man pulled out the machete in the store and threatened shoppers. At that time, officers arrested the man. Complete article


Sheriff: Man Led Chase After Stealing Liquor From Ind. Walmart 02/11/2019

(Aurora, Ind.) - Shoplifting booze from Walmart in Aurora led to a vehicle chase in Dearborn County Sunday night.

Dearborn County Sheriff Shane McHenry says Seth R. Ford, 41, was observed by loss prevention officers at Walmart stealing a bottle of liquor at around 8:30 p.m.

He fled the store in a gray Pontiac car, which officers located on U.S. 50 at Wilson Creek Road. After Ford refused to stop, Aurora Police officers successfully deployed a tire deflation device. Complete article


Shoplifter extortion case against Walmart, other retailers is dismissed 02/09/2019

(Reuters) - A federal judge dismissed a racketeering lawsuit accusing Walmart Inc and six other retailers of extortion by forcing accused shoplifters to take costly “restorative justice” classes or else be reported to the police.

In a decision late on Friday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, found no proof of a nationwide conspiracy to steer accused shoplifters into paying $400 up front or $500 in installments for the classes from Utah-based Corrective Education Co, and admitting guilt, to avoid prosecution.

Shoplifting is the main source of inventory “shrinkage” for U.S. retailers, causing losses of about $559 per incident, and together with so-called organized retail crime about $17.1 billion in 2017, according to the National Retail Federation.

Koh said the three plaintiffs, who were accused in 2017 of shoplifting from Walmarts in Florida, Georgia and Texas, did not show that the retailers had specific knowledge of a conspiracy.

She said it did not matter that the retailers might use Corrective Education’s database to conduct background checks before deciding to offer the six-to-eight-hour online classes, a portion of whose costs the plaintiffs said was reimbursed to retailers.

“The only alleged commonality each of the defendants have with one another is CEC, whom plaintiffs have chosen not to sue,” Koh wrote. “That is not enough to allege one single nationwide conspiracy.” Complete article


Recall alert: 99,975 pounds of frozen entrees sold at Walmart and Winn-Dixie off shelves 02/11/2019

Three frozen steam bag entrees, one sold at Walmart and two sold at stores such as Winn-Dixie, fresco y mas and Bi Lo, were yanked Sunday night by manufacturer VICS Acquisition over a food allergy problem.

The happi foodi store finder says shoppers can find happi foodi Bloody Mary Inspired Chicken at Walmarts nationwide. SE Grocers Marsala Chicken and Mediterranean Herb Chicken were sold at Southeastern Grocers stores — Winn-Dixie, fresco y mas, Bi Lo, Harvey’s — in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.

The entrees have egg. The list of ingredients on the packaging don’t list egg. For those with egg allergies or taking care of someone with an egg allergy, that is a potentially dangerous problem. Complete article


Two Pennsylvania women arrested in Pa. Walmart, accused of stealing cookies, clothes while intoxicated 02/10/2019

She paid for her groceries at SC Walmart. But she walked out with more than just those 02/10/2019

Man steals $2,100 worth of Google products from Lehigh Fla. Walmart 02/11/2019

Handicap Scooter Used In Attempted Ashland Ohio Walmart Theft 02/10/2019

Police calls: Man flees with TVs, pushes cart at 'high rate of speed' at Pa. Walmart 02/0/2019

Police Seek Identity Of Suspect In Indiana Co. Pa. Walmart Theft 02/1/2019

Police: Lincoln Ca. Woman, 25, Tried To Pass Counterfeit Money At Walmart 02/11/2019

Fire in Gastonia NC Walmart believed to be intentionally set, officials say 02/11/2019

GASTONIA, N.C. — Gastonia Fire responded to a fire in a Walmart on Myrtle School Road in Gastonia.

Officials say there was no major damage, and the fire was controlled without injuries.

The store, however, is closed until further notice, according to Gaston County Officials.

According to the fire marshal, an investigation is underway. Currently, the fire is believed to be intentionally set. There have been no arrests, and no injuries were reported. Complete article


Jackson Co. Mississippi police chase ends in front of Walmart 02/11/2019

JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - A seemingly normal traffic stop turned into a police chase Monday night after police say the driver of a vehicle refused to stop.

Sheriff Mike Ezell with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said the chase happened around 7 p.m. on I-10 west of Hwy 57. According to Ezell, an officer with the Metro Task Force tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver took off and wouldn’t stop. Ezell says he drove into Vancleave and then came back down to the Ocean Springs Walmart.

There were 2 people in the car.

Ezell says the driver stopped the car and the two ran into the Walmart. They were arrested without incident. Complete article


Chillicothe man tased at Ohio Walmart 02/11/2019

A Chillicothe man allegedly in possession of a loaded gun and cocaine was tased by police Sunday inside Walmart after he reportedly resisted arrest.

Just before noon, the Washington C.H. Police Department was contacted on a complaint of a suspicious male at Walmart, 1397 Leesburg Ave. The person who made the complaint said that while the male was talking to someone on the phone, he referenced harming unknown person(s) with an assault rifle.

When an officer arrived, the suspect, later identified as Marvan D.L. Woodfork, was found near the market side entrance of the store walking quickly by the checkout aisles and toward the exit. An officer advised Woodfork to come speak with him, according to reports, and he obliged. Woodfork reportedly admitted to being on the phone talking about an assault rifle. Complete article


Sisters accused of assaulting ND Walmart employee 02/11/2019

Two Grand Forks sisters allegedly assaulted a Walmart employee as they fled the store with a shopping cart full of merchandise on Jan. 20.

Warrants were issued for the arrest of Tiffany Lynae Lewis and Tiauna Marie Lewis Monday.

Both women are facing a felony charge of robbery, which holds a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Complete article


Walmart disregarded Ariz. medical pot laws for injured worker: Judge 02/11/2019

A federal judge in Arizona on Thursday denied in part a summary judgment motion filed by Walmart over its firing of an injured worker and medical marijuana patient who failed a post-injury drug test, stating the company disregarded the state’s medical marijuana law.

Carol Whitmire had worked at two Wal-Mart stores since 2008, having received training on the store’s alcohol and drug-abuse policy that was consistent with federal laws banning marijuana as a controlled substance. By 2014, she had obtained a medical marijuana card, pursuant to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act of 2010, to help her sleep and to relieve pain associated with her arthritis and prior shoulder surgery, according to documents in Carol M. Whitmire v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., filed in United States District Court, District of Arizona, in Phoenix.

In May 2016, Ms. Whitmire hurt her wrist while leveling bags in the ice machine, an accident deemed in documentation as “not conclusive that the associate did not follow safe work practices[.] . . . This could have just as easily happened to a customer,” records state.

As part of Walmart policy, her visit with an urgent care facility included a drug screen, which showed levels of marijuana in her urine at the highest recordable levels, according to court records. She admitted that she had smoked marijuana at 2 a.m., 12 hours before her 2 p.m. shift at the store on the day of her accident, documents state. Complete article


Sen. Sanders releases statement on Walmart paid leave 02/11/2019

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Monday regarding Walmart’s announcement that they will allow employees to earn up to 48 hours of paid time off:

“Walmart’s decision to provide 48 hours of paid sick leave to some of its employees is a small step forward, but not nearly good enough. Walmart, which is owned by the wealthiest family in America, is not a poor company. If Walmart can afford $20 billion for stock buybacks to enrich wealthy shareholders, it can afford to raise the pay of all its workers to a living wage. Walmart can and must pay all of its workers at least $15 an hour with good benefits." Complete article


Cold pressed watermelon juice recall includes Walmart, Publix, Winn-Dixie 02/12/2019

World Waters LLC is recalling Cold Pressed Juice Watermelon (WTRMLN WTR Original 12 packs) because plastic pieces could be present in some of the finished products. Retailers quickly joining the recall included Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart.

The flavored water was sent to customers nationwide for distribution via retail sales from Dec. 22, 2018, through Feb. 5, 2019. Retailers quickly joining the recall included Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart.

World Waters described the problem as “the potential presence of soft plastic that may be loosely floating in some of the finished products.” The company’s recall notice did not say how it happened. Complete article


Walmart copies Amazon: It doesn't just want to sell you stuff. It also wants to sell you, to advertisers. 02/11/2019

Walmart is big in almost every way — 4,755 stores, 1.5 million employees and $380 billion in revenue in the U.S. alone. But one part of the world's largest retailer remains minuscule.

"We have a tiny ad business," CEO Doug McMillon told investors in October. "It could be bigger."

With about 300 million shoppers visiting its stores each month, according to Forrester Research, and millions more on its websites, Walmart draws in more people than Google, Facebook or Amazon. That audience, and the purchase data they generate, are catnip for big advertisers like Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz. But Walmart and other retailers historically haven't done enough to convert that data into dollars, particularly online. Complete article


Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, Appointed to Walmart's Board of Directors 02/11/2019

Walmart Inc. of Bentonville on Monday appointed Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, to its board of directors.

The appointment is effective immediately.

Conde, 45, is the 12th member of the board and will become a member of the company's Audit Committee and Technology & eCommerce Committee.

As chairman of NBCUniversal International Group, Conde is responsible for the operations and international expansion of NBCUniversal businesses outside of North America. Complete article


Tires stolen from storage facility at Walmart in Eureka Missouri 02/12/2019

WANTED: Suspects accused of stealing TV from La. Walmart 02/11/2019

Pa. State Police looking for two suspects in Walmart theft 02/11/2019

Wanted Milledgeville Ga. man arrested near Walmart 02/12/2019

Police Beat: Shoplifter jailed after stealing matches from Walmart 02/12/2019 A shoplifting suspect was jailed on Feb. 7 by Tahlequah Okla. Police Department officers after he allegedly stole matches from Walmart.

4-year-old Crossville Tenn. Walmart theft case one of three resolved with pleas 02/12/2019

Buffalo pair arrested following theft of TVs from Clarence NY Walmart 02/12/2019

Charity discovers fraudulent credit card charges at Summerfield Fla. Wal-Mart 02/12/2019

Police blotter: Sexual assault at Montana Walmart; partner or family member assault; a desire to go to jail 02/12/2019

The killing of John Crawford at Beavercreek Ohio Walmart: Officer says he ‘wouldn’t have changed a thing’ 02/12/2019

Ex-employee accused of pulling knife on NC Walmart workers, stealing body spray 02/12/2019

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A former employee at a New Hanover County Walmart accused of pulling a knife on workers and stealing a cart full of items from the store was arrested Tuesday evening, according to Lt. Jerry Brewer, spokesperson for the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the Carolina Beach Road store Monday afternoon after Loss Prevention employees alerted 911 about the armed robbery.

Brewer said 44-year-old Tammy Oxendine entered the store and started filling up her cart with items, including perfume and body spray, before heading toward the exit.

When employees confronted Oxendine, she allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened them as she was leaving the store. Complete article


Thief hammers Walmart jewelry case in Southwest Lubbock, Tx., police report says 02/12/2019

LUBBOCK, Texas - Lubbock Police were called to Walmart at 6315 82nd Street on Sunday for the report of a theft.

Police were told a man stole several items and a customer chased the suspect to a home in the 6500 block of 85th Street. Police found someone inside the house, but the person did not match the suspect description.

Police then talked to witnesses in Walmart. Officers were told that the suspect went into the hardware section and took a sledge hammer.

“[The suspect] made his way to the glass jewelry cases,” a police report said. He then hit the glass jewelry case with the sledge hammer, the police report said. Complete article


Former employee tried to push over — and video — a shopping cart carrying an infant in Wisc. Walmart parking lot 02/13/2019

A 28-year-old Milwaukee man allegedly tried to push over a shopping cart carrying an infant at 5:09 p.m. Feb. 7 in the parking lot of the Brown Deer Walmart.

The infant's mother, a 17-year-old Milwaukee girl, said the man was accompanied by a friend who filmed the encounter on his phone. Both men fled the scene before police arrived.

Walmart employees identified the man as a former employee who films prank videos and posts them on social media, according to Brown Deer police.

Brown Deer police will cite the man for disorderly conduct. Walmart has banned the man from the property. Complete article


Man pulls knife on manager as duo allegedly robs Walmart in Porter Tx. 02/12/2019

Two men allegedly robbed a Porter Walmart Feb. 6 with one putting a knife to a manager’s face before the duo fled in their Kia Soul.

Camera surveillance stills provided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office show a white man in a navy-colored hoodie pushing an empty shopping cart and a taller black man wearing a reddish shirt and dark-colored shorts falling below the knee walking from the entrance doors of the Walmart located at 23561 U.S. 59. After both men pulled merchandise off the shelves, the man in the reddish shirt pulled the crossover SUV in front of the garden center’s doors, according to the news release. Complete article


Maine man accused of assaulting NH Walmart employees; cops 02/12/2019

CONWAY — A Maine man was arrested on a slew of charges at North Conway's Walmart last week, including that he assaulted employees and police and possessed LSD.

David Cottrell, 41, of East Stoneham, Maine, is charged with felony-level possession of drugs (for allegedly having LSD). He also is charged with the following misdemeanors: five counts of simple assault (with two being subject to extended jail terms because police officers were alleged to be victims), two counts of resisting arrest and one count of criminal mischief. Complete article


Walmart Hit With $95M Jury Verdict for Infringing Grill Marks 02/13/2019

Walmart Stores Inc. owes over $95 million for using another company’s trademarks to sell grills, a jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled Feb. 12.

Walmart’s “Backyard Grill” trademark was likely to cause confusion with Variety Stores Inc.'s “Backyard” and “Backyard BBQ” marks used on lawn and garden goods, the jury found. The jury also found that Walmart infringed Variety’s trademarks willfully.

The jury awarded Variety over $45 million in royalties and $50 million in profits from the... Complete article


Police: Suspect Arrested For Stealing Several Hundred Dollars From Ca. Walmart Registers 02/13/2019

Police roundup: Man accused of attempted theft from Barboursville WV Walmart 02/13/2019

Fishkill NY Walmart bathrooms closed, port-a-potties set up outside store 02/13/2019

Port St. Lucie Fla. Police on lookout for Walmart thieves 02/14/2019

WFPD: pair steals over 1,000 cigarette lighters, 700 energy drinks from Tx. Walmart 02/13/2019

Garner NC police chase and crash ends near Walmart 02/13/2019

GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) - Garner police said a tip about a suicidal man led to a chase and crash Wednesday morning.

A neighboring law enforcement agency told Garner police about a suicidal man that could be in their jurisdiction.

Garner officers located the man in his vehicle at the Walmart off Fayetteville Road.

As officers approached, the man drove off - leading officers on a brief chase.

There was a crash related to the incident but not the pursuit. EMS was called for that crash. Complete article


Deputies searching for man accused of threatening Wash. Walmart employee with knife 02/13/2019

SPANAWAY, Wash. - Deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who allegedly threatened a Walmart employee.

Officials said the suspect threatened an employee with a knife at the Spanaway Walmart on Jan. 17 at 1:25 a.m. Complete article


Why Walmart farms out same-day grocery deliveries to low-cost freelance drivers 02/14/2019

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Reuters) - Jeff Leonard slides behind the wheel of his burgundy Hyundai Accord and heads to a nearby Walmart Inc store, where he picks up the package of groceries waiting for him.

Roughly an hour later, the 62-year-old delivers vegetables, flavored water and cleaning supplies to a shopper’s front door. It is one of nearly 100 such Walmart deliveries for Leonard since July, when he first signed up to courier for the world’s largest retailer.

But he does not wear a uniform or collect a traditional paycheck. He is not on Walmart’s staff.

Leonard and his cohort of some 16.5 million American “gig” workers - people who currently work in contingent jobs or as on call workers - come at a lower cost for Walmart than full-time employees, according to interviews with drivers, delivery companies and Walmart documents reviewed by Reuters. Complete article


Police: Alleged shoplifter left trail of items in Nevada Walmart parking lot 02/13/2019

ELKO — An Elko man who has been arrested 15 times in the past three years was booked into Elko County Jail Tuesday on a robbery charge.

Police were called to Walmart at about 9 p.m. Monday on a report of a shoplifter who attempted to take a cart full of items out of the store, said Elko police Lt. Mike Palhegyi. A female employee attempted to stop him and he allegedly knocked her to the ground as he fled.

Palhegyi said the suspect left a trail of items in the parking lot but got away with a pair of boots. Complete article


Walmart in Mexico squeezes suppliers, profits jump in quarter 02/13/2019

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s largest retailer Wal Mart de Mexico blew past analyst expectations to report an 11 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit on Wednesday, citing growth in Mexico where efficiencies and cost reductions boosted profit margins.

The company known as Walmex grew its quarterly gross margin, a metric of profitability and efficiency, in Mexico by 30 basis points, to 22.5 percent.

“Our buyers are doing great work, and are negotiating in a more efficient way with our suppliers, which has allowed us to keep our leader position in price and improve profitability,” Walmex said in a statement. Complete article


Father of teen molested at Durant Okla. Walmart speaks out 02/13/2019

Fingerprint leads to arrest in 2017 Missouri Walmart theft 02/14/2019

Walmart 'secret shopper' scam 02/12/2019

KCSO: Man stole cash register drawer from Norris Freeway Tenn. Walmart 02/14/2019

Winston-Salem NC Walmart Shoppers Evacuated During Gas Leak Investigation 02/14/2019 Firefighters say shoppers got to go back inside the Walmart on Kester Mill Road around 8 p.m. The source of the gas leak was coming from a leaky HVAC system on the roof.

It’s been vacant for 11 years. Now this developer has plans for Belleville Ill.’s former Walmart 02/14/2019

HAVE YOU SEEN THEM: Authorities looking for NC Walmart larceny suspects 02/14/2019

Arrest made in indecent exposure incidents at Tx. Walmart 02/14/2019

Man took pictures in Fort Worth Tx. Walmart bathroom, police say 02/14/2019

Sheriff: Man Accidentally Fires Gun Inside Ironwood Mich. Walmart 02/14/2019

The Gogebic County Sheriff's Office says a man accidentally fired his gun inside an Ironwood Walmart Thursday afternoon.

Deputies responded to the store around 2:35 p.m. to a report of shots fired. Responding officers determined it was an accidental gunshot discharge.

Authorities say a 58-year-old man later came back to the store to report that he was the person responsible. The sheriff's office says he is legally licensed to carry a concealed weapon. No one was injured. Complete article


SRSO: Alabama man arrested for masturbating in Milton Fla. Walmart 02/14/2019 The witness said he saw Booker ejaculate on the floor and wipe it up with a clothing item, which Booker then discarded on a nearby shelf, according to his arrest report.

Why Walmart Won’t Stop Selling the National Enquirer 02/15/2019 A decade ago, the company that distributed magazines to Walmart Inc. and other big retailers tried to impose a surcharge of 7 cents a copy. Publishers such as Time Inc. and American Media Inc. fought back by halting shipments, resulting in a short period where checkout-counter racks were devoid of titles like AMI’s National Enquirer. Walmart received more customer complaints about the missing tabloid than just about any other out-of-stock item in its history.

With son in tow, man allegedly swipes $100 in socks, underwear at Pa. Walmart 02/15/2019

Florence SC police seek help identifying people in Walmart theft 02/15/2019

Tenn. Walmart Employee Charged With Embezzlement 02/15/2019

Man who reportedly stole wedding rings on Valentine's Day from Myrtle Beach SC Walmart turns himself in 02/15/2019

Kansas City Missouri police investigate reported bomb threat at Northland Walmart 02/15/2019

Mother says she discovered a bed bug at the Sand Springs Okla. Walmart 02/15/2019

SAND SPRINGS, Okla (KTUL) -- Walmart and the Health Department are investigating a woman's claim that she found a bed bug in the Sand Springs store.

She said she found it while shopping for her baby. The woman took a picture of the bed bug, prompting a search to see if there are anymore.

"It's pretty frustrating knowing that's the store I have to go to to buy diapers," said the woman who found the bed bug. Complete article


Walmart is putting trailers equipped with VR technology in its parking lots, with plans to bring it to stores 02/14/2019

Walmart over the next few weeks will be bringing 50-foot tractor-trailers to the parking lots of some of its stores to let customers experience DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" using virtual reality technology.

Wearing a VR headset and sitting in VR-powered chairs, users will be able to see and feel — and even smell — like they are in the DreamWorks film.

This is just the first application by Walmart of Spatial&, a VR tech company that's been growing in stealth mode for the past year under Walmart's incubator Store No. 8. Spatial& is notably the second company officially launched out of Store No. 8, after Jetblack, a text-to-order service currently being tested in New York. Complete article


Walmart Reports Earnings as It Recovers From Its Christmas Eve Low 02/15/2019

Retail giant Walmart Inc. (WMT - Get Report) , a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, is consolidating significant volatility that occurred between its February 2018 all-time intraday high of $109.98 and its May 2018 low of $81.78. This 25.8% range is the longer-term backdrop as the retailer reports earnings before the opening bell on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The more recent volatility has Walmart up 5.8% year to date and up 14.9% from its Dec. 24 low of $85.78. The stock is 7.2% below its Nov. 12 high of $106.21. This dual-volatility since the beginning of 2018 was primarily caused by the retailer's challenge to compete with Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN - Get Report) . As a consumer, 95% of my shopping is on Amazon Prime. What I have noticed over the last six months is that orders of bulky items from Amazon such as cat litter came from Walmart. Complete article


Walmart is rebranding itself as the most trusted company in America as Amazon increasingly becomes a villain 02/14/2019 (Translation: they think trust is a commodity that can be bought on the open market with Propaganda ads; however their reputation is so bad only the most credulous will believe it.)

In the 1980s, Walmart was the archvillain of capitalism: the ruthless killer of main streets and mom-and-pops, outrageously profitable and, by all appearances, unstoppable. Now, the 57-year-old retailer has a new role in American society: the anti-Amazon.

What's happening:Amid a decade-long era of heady corporate profits, vast numbers of workers feel untethered, distrustful and without a sense of belonging and dignity. Amazon, like the rest of Big Tech, is being swept up in this crisis of faith, villainized for its very bigness. .....

The rebrand has its skeptics: Louis Hyman, a historian of capitalism at Cornell University, tells Axios: "I'm sure Walmart wants to position itself as a small-town business, but that's just not true. Walmart is still a 500-pound gorilla." Complete article


Woman running from police hides in Nebraska Walmart 02/1/2019

Utah man charged for leaving picture of erect penis on woman's car in Walmart parking lot 02/17/2019

He stole male enhancement pills from SC Walmart. Now, police are working on killing mood 02/17/2019

Police investigate suspicious package at NC Wal-Mart 02/17/2019 Officers learned that the man put a box containing an old car jack into the shopping cart and then went inside the store to purchase a new car jack, Rabun said.

Williamsburg Ky. Police Say Man Used Ruse To Steal TVs From Walmart 02/18/2019

10-year-old Girl Scout assaulted at Redding Ca. Walmart while selling cookies 02/17/2019

Tracy Rosser Departs Walmart 02/18/2019 Tracy Rosser, the senior vice president in charge of transportation at Walmart Inc. in Bentonville, left the company at the end of January.

2 in custody after gunfire erupts at Walmart parking lot on West Side Chicago Ill., 1 injured running for cover 02/16/2019

Two people are in custody after gunfire erupted in the parking lot of a West Side Walmart, where a woman injured her ankle attempting to run for cover Saturday afternoon, fire and police officials said.

Shortly before 12:25 p.m., occupants of one vehicle began shooting at another vehicle in a parking lot of a Walmart store located in the 4600 block of West North Avenue, according to police and fire officials.

The offending vehicle fled, but was stopped a short distance later, and a male and a female were taken into custody, police said.

During the shooting, a woman twisted her ankle trying to move away from the gunfire, fire officials said. She was taken in good condition to Norwegian American Hospital. Complete article


Off-duty ICE officer fatally shoots man at Douglas County Ga. Walmart 02/17/2019

DOUGLASVILLE, GA (CBS46) Douglasville Police were called to a fatal shooting involving an off-duty ICE officer at a Walmart off of I-20.

According to police, O.L. Jones, an off-duty ICE officer, was involved in an argument with 45 year-old Johnathan Liddell of Austell at around 12:50 p.m. on Sunday.

The argument escalated into gunfire, with Jones fatally shooting Liddell. The weapon used in the shooting was personally-owned.

A video shows as many as a dozen people walking in the parking lot at the time of the shooting.

A witness who shot video of the incident says Jones had a badge and identified himself as a law enforcement officer.

No charges have been filed but the incident remains under investigation. Complete article

Walmart shooting shrouded in questions due to heavily-redacted report 02/19/2019

An ICE officer shot and killed a man in a Walmart parking lot, but details typically released in these incidents are being withheld by a local police department.

LITHIA SPRINGS, Ga. — It's been just over 48 hours since a man was found dead in his car from a gunshot wound in a busy Walmart parking lot.

11Alive has been asking Douglasville police for the incident report hoping to get answers about what led up to the gunfire. But when they finally sent it Tuesday afternoon, it was heavily redacted. ....

But the initial incident report doesn’t even give that officer’s full name – only "O. Jones." 11Alive was later able to confirm his identity as 38-year-old Othello Lamar Jones. ......

Since receiving the report, 11Alive spoke to someone at the Attorney General's office who said this redacted report violates Georgia open records law.

Police report gives new details into Lithia Springs Ga. Walmart parking lot shooting 02/2/2019

..... According to the report, when Douglasville Police got there, they went to check on Liddell, but he was already dead. That's when the officer noticed a black gun on top of the red Chevy Caviler. He asked Jones whose gun it was, and he answered that it belonged to Liddell. Jones told the officer that he got it from the backseat of the car and put it on top of the car.

The officer picked up the weapon, and "immediately noticed it was plastic," according to the officer's narrative. He later wrote that it looked like an airsoft gun.

The report states that Jones had his wife and three kids with him, and they all said they were okay. After that, Walmart's loss prevention officer came over to police to report that there was video of the incident.

Officers handcuffed Jones after that, removing his weapon and placing it into the back of the police vehicle. The police report lists the alleged crime as a "willful killing."

According to one man who started recording moments after the shooting, it appeared that Jones and Liddell had been arguing before the lone gunshot rang out. Erick Wright said after the shot, he looked over to see Jones with his gun drawn, yelling for the man inside a car to put his hands up. When the victim was actually shot is unclear, but Wright said seconds later, he heard the officer call for his wife to get his badge.

"So, I went ahead and started filming him," Wright said.

No charges for off-duty ICE officer involved in fatal Walmart shooting 02/25/2019

Jonathan Liddell, is a combat veteran who understands how to organize teams to tackle complex problems

Gun memorial Johnathan Liddell, age 45


Police search for suspects after shooting breaks out at Matthews NC Walmart 02/18/2019

MATTHEWS, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) - The sound of a scuffle followed by the sound of gunshots is what made a family run for their lives in a Walmart parking lot Sunday night. Now they hope surveillance video will help police catch the shooters.

Charlotte Mecklenburg police are investigating a shooting in a parking lot on Galleria Boulevard in Matthews.

“People were shooting like crazy. We were on the ground behind the car and they were still shooting.” ....

Soon the shooters scattered, and drove in different directions. The family went inside the Walmart to get help, but says the manager did not bat an eye.

“The parking lot is part of your property, it’s part of your establishment, at least offer a glass of water. I’m baffled,” said Scury. Complete article


Razor blades put in shopping cart handles, injuring NC Walmart shopper, Siler City police say 02/18/2019

SILER CITY, N.C. (WNCN) -- Siler City police are looking for two men after razor blades were hidden in the handles of several shopping carts, injuring at least one Walmart shopper.

The incident was reported Sunday in Siler City and a Walmart customer was cut by the razor blades, police said

Police said the razor blades may have been put in place as part of a shoplifting plot at a store. Complete article

Razor blades found on NC Walmart shopping carts. ‘Be cautious at all stores,’ cops say 02/19/2019


Armed man snatches items from Walmart, invades home and steals car but caught, Altamonte Fla. police say, after chase in stolen vehicle 02/18/2019

21-year-old man tried to steal items from a Walmart in Altamonte Springs early Monday morning, brandished a gun when a security officer tried to stop him and then ran to a nearby apartment building where he pointed the firearm at a resident and demanded keys to a car.

The man fled in the stolen vehicle but was caught by police in Maitland after crashing the car into tree and a gate, according to the Altamonte Springs Police Department.

Brandon Michael Houston was charged with armed robbery, home invasion with a firearm and grand theft of a motor vehicle, the department said.

The incident began about 12:40 a.m. when a security officer from Walmart on State Road 434 reported a man had been spotted hiding items in the waistband of his pants but had pointed a gun at the officer and fled when confronted. Complete article


Ogeechee Road Savannah Ga. Walmart robbery suspect crashed stolen car while fleeing police 02/18/2019

A 53-year-old man was charged on Monday after he kidnapped a woman, stole her car, robbed another woman at gunpoint and crashed the stolen car while fleeing police on Monday.

Chatham County Police and Savannah police’s Strategic Investigations Unit arrested Charles Poag, 53, Monday afternoon.

Poag was charged with kidnapping and theft by taking in Savannah police’s jursidiction.

Savannah police spokeswoman Bianca Johnson said Poag kidnapped a 22-year-old woman near an apartment complex in the 8000 block of Waters Avenue around 12:10 p.m. Complete article


Man allegedly threatens teens at Piqua Ohio Walmart 02/16/2019

PIQUA — A pair of incidents, both reportedly involving weapons, kept Piqua police officers busy on the east side of Piqua on Saturday evening.

Police were first called to a disturbance at the Piqua Walmart store on East Ash Street at 7:44 p.m.

Lt. Rick Byron of the Piqua Police Department said a male approached a group of teenagers while allegedly “brandishing a firearm.”

The frightened teens called Miami County 911 to report the incident. Piqua police officers responded, as did units from the Piqua post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Officers located the suspect, identified as Nathan G. Street, 34, outside the Walmart store. He was found to have a weapon, a BB gun that closely resembled a real handgun, stuck in his waistband.

Street was taken into custody and had been charged with inducing panic, carrying a concealed weapon, aggravated menacing, and obstructing official business. Street is incarcerated at the Miami County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Tuesday. Complete article


Drug prices are killing diabetics. ‘Walmart insulin’ isn’t the solution. 02/19/2019

Insulin prices are killing people. A single vial, which lasts some users between one and two weeks, is priced over $300 — roughly triple what it cost in 2002. One in 4 diabetes patients have admitted to rationing the drug because of costs, and several have died after doing so.

Much to the relief of insulin affordability advocates, who have been raising awareness about costs and pushing for policy changes, the public is increasingly aware of this crisis. But instead of working with advocates to rectify the situation, too many people are simply promoting older, cheaper insulin. This was evident in early February when a Facebook post touting “Walmart insulin” went viral. Such gestures come from a good place, but they put insulin-dependent people at greater risk and threaten to exacerbate the larger problem.

It started on Feb. 4, when a news station in Texas shared a viewer’s letter suggesting that struggling people should simply go to Walmart to purchase insulin without a prescription for $25. This viewer claimed that her husband buys three vials a month. The anchor admitted that he “can’t vouch for Linda” but told viewers, “Try it. Let me know if it works.” ....

As those of us within the Type 1 diabetes community know, and as a subsequent Snopes entry clarified, “Walmart” insulin is an older form, one that few Type 1 diabetics use. The chain store sells short- and long-acting human insulin (commonly known as R and N), rather than short- and long-acting analog insulin, which is the variety that costs over $300 per vial. Human insulin was created in the 1970s to better imitate a human pancreas over the animal insulin that was initially used. While that might seem like a good thing, synthetic insulin poorly approximates the insulin secretion of a healthy pancreas. Among other things, it can take an hour to begin absorbing, while more recently developed rapid-acting analog insulin starts to take effect in 20 minutes or less after an injection. Complete article


MCSO looking for man who stole multiple grocery items from Fla. Walmart 02/18/2019

Scam of the Week: Bogus $100 Walmart and Target reward 02/18/2019

Diagnosed schizophrenic who survived police shooting outside Fla. Walmart shares his story 02/19/2019

Jasper Ind. PD needs help identifying Walmart theft suspects 02/18/2019

Woman eludes man trying to get into her car in Colorado Walmart parking lot 02/1/2019

Westfield Ind. police looking for man responsible for string of Walmart thefts in Indiana, Illinois 02/1/2019

Man was watching women in Warner Robins Ga. Walmart bathroom 02/18/2019

Theft at Iowa Walmart leads to felony drug charge against Sheffield woman 02/18/2019

Man suspected of stealing more than $160 in laundry detergent from Tx. Walmart 02/17/2019

Oberlin Ohio police seek suspect in theft, assault at Walmart 02/19/2019

Deputies: Suspect steals jewelry chains from north Macon Ga. Walmart 02/19/2019

Benton Arkansas PD searching for suspected Walmart thieves 02/19/2019

Man faces theft charges at two Arkansas Wal-Mart locations 02/19/2019 The report further stated the passenger, 18-year-old Nicholas Jashun Jones of Jonesboro, had a loaded magazine for a 380 pistol on him. Jonesboro police discovered a Ruger 380 pistol where witnesses claimed to have seen it thrown. After running the gun through NCIC, police discovered the gun was stolen.

Spanish Fork Utah police need your help identifying man involved in Walmart 'incident' 02/19/2019

2 men arrested in Mt. Juliet Tenn. after allegedly wheeling stolen items out of Walmart in cart 02/19/2019

Walmart’s new corporate policy may cost Pa. man with cerebral palsy his job 02/19/2019

MONROE TOWNSHIP, PA (WNEP/CNN) - Adam Catlin has been a greeter at the Walmart store near Selinsgrove for about 10 years.

"When the customers come in, I greet the customers,’ Catlin explained, “and then if they have a return, I scan it and put a sticker on it."

He loves his job and doesn't let his cerebral palsy hold him back.

"Walmart is his heart. His job is his driving force in life," Catlin’s sister Amber Piermattei said. Complete article

Former Walmart Greeter Offering Support to Man in Snyder County 02/20/2019

Thousands petition for Walmart greeter with cerebral palsy after job is eliminated in Western North Carolina 02/25/2019

Local attorney says Walmart may face legal battle if disabled employees are terminated 02/26/2019


Fowl mishap closes Vineland NJ Walmart for about an hour 02/19/2019

VINELAND – A fowl mishap caused Walmart to clear customers from the aisles and temporarily close the store on Monday.

A bird flew into the primary utility lines serving the West Landis Avenue property and got tangled, resulting in a power outage at the 205,000-square-foot superstore and parking lot.

“That goose is cooked,” Vineland Municipal Utilities Director John Lillie told The Daily Journal. Complete article


Lawrence Township Pa. to fight Walmart, Lowe's tax appeal 02/19/2019

Walmart and Lowe’s in Lawrence Township have filed a tax appeal and the Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors voted to pay its share of the appraisal cost at its meeting last night.

Solicitor James Naddeo said the county usually takes the lead in defending against these appeals, but due to financial constraints the Clearfield Area School District, who has the most to lose, will be defending the case and its solicitor is hiring a company to perform an appraisal on the two buildings.

The total cost for both appraisals is $8,000, and the county, school district and the township will share in the cost based on their millage rates. The township’s share of the cost will be about $1,000, Naddeo said. Complete article

Clearfield board approves appraisals for Walmart, Lowe's 02/25/2019


Exclusive: Walmart, Google-backed Deliv end online grocery partnership 02/12/2019

(Reuters) - Walmart Inc and logistics firm Deliv pulled the plug on a key same-day grocery delivery partnership, dealing a setback in the retailer’s race against rival Amazon.com Inc to deliver groceries to customers’ homes.

The world’s largest retailer began bolstering its partnerships with third-party courier firms to reach consumers in 100 U.S. cities last year, after failing to use Uber and Lyft to deliver groceries, and struggling in its attempt to use its own employees to deliver goods.

Deliv, which was one of Walmart’s earliest partners with pilot programs in Miami and San Jose, served the retailer with a 90-day termination notice, and the two companies stopped working with each other in late January, according to two people familiar with the situation. Complete article


UK Regulator Casts Doubt on Walmart's Sainsbury's-Asda Merger 02/20/2019

LONDON — British regulators say the proposed supermarkets merger between Sainsbury's and Walmart's Asda unit would push up prices and reduce quality for shoppers, casting doubt on a deal that would create the country's biggest grocery chain.

It also serves as yet another regulatory blow to Walmart at a time when it's trying to overhaul its international business and focus on big growth opportunities overseas. Walmart, which last year bought a $16 billion controlling stake in India's online retailer Flipkart, is now facing tighter rules by the Indian government as it curbs how foreign e-commerce companies operate.

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority, in a preliminary report, said Wednesday it would be "difficult for the companies to address the concerns it has identified" and that a significant number of stores would probably need to be sold before it gains approval. Complete article


BREAKING: Mobile Alabama police arrest woman accused of abandoning a child at Walmart 02/19/2019

Police: Woman stole hundreds of dollars in merchandise from Crockett Tx. Walmart 02/19/2019

North Charleston SC Police arrest woman at Walmart on shoplifting, gun, and cocaine charges 02/19/2019 Officers say they responded after a report of a detained shoplifter, and say they found a .22 Caliber Revolver with the serial number scratched over in her coat pocket.

Shoplifter steals Kansas Walmart iPhones 02/20/2019

Plea change for accused Vermont Walmart embezzler delayed 02/20/2019

Man charged with killing Fla. Walmart diaper thief has new explanation for what happened 02/20/2019

Madison man arrested for stealing TVs from Hendersonville Tenn. Walmart 02/21/2019

Augusta Ga. women suing Walmart saying they were wrongfully arrested for shoplifting 02/20/2019

Augusta, GA (WJBF) - Two Augusta women tell NewsChannel 6 they are currently suing Walmart. They say they were arrested in front of their small children, thrown into jail and fined all because of an accident.

NewsChannel 6’s Ashley Osborne talked to the women and explains why they are suing the massive retailer.

In March of 2016, sisters Sameisha Walters and Chantel Lawrence went to the Walmart on Wrightsboro Rd in Augusta with their toddlers. The women describe a shopping experience many parents know all too well.

“As soon as we pick things up and put it in the cart, the kids are taking it out. They're putting in what they want. We're taking out what they're putting in saying 'we're not getting that. No!" Lawrence says about their trip to pick up a list of items for their families.

They ran into problems with the self-check-out.

“I’m scanning, hearing the machine beep, thinking that everything is all ok,” says Walters. “Before I even exit the store I was stopped.”

Walmart employees accused them of shoplifting. .....

“He said he didn't see anything,” Lawrence recalls. “When the cop started arresting us we were like 'why are you arresting us if you didn't see where we stole anything?’ He said he has to do what they say.” .....

This is not the first time Walmart has dealt with a case like this. A recently published New York Times article lists similar stories. ......

“I had to strip down to everything for them and have chains on my ankles, chains on my hands. I look back on that and I'm like--it's emotional,” Walters says. Complete article


Duncan Okla. Walmart investigates after razor blades cut multiple people 02/20/2019

DUNCAN, Okla. - A customer cut by a razor blade at an Oklahoma Walmart.

The investigation is underway and Walmart is now taking drastic measures to make sure other customers are safe.

Linda Marsh says she went to grab a package of paint and a razor blade that was stuck on it, cut her.

"It was on the back side so you didn't see it and I reached around and when I did I thought, ouch," said Marsh. "I had a blade sticking out of my hand and it was bleeding."

She says the Walmart employee told her, this wasn't the first time this happened.

"You go in there to do your shopping and next thing you know you`re bleeding from an injury someone thought was funny," said Marsh. "My doctor did give me a tetanus shot because you don`t know if the blade was clean or contaminated." Complete article


Video shows bystanders detaining stabbing suspect at Valley Las Cruces NM Walmart 02/21/2019

LAS CRUCES - A person was stabbed during an altercation inside Walmart, prompting bystanders to chase down and detain the suspect.

Las Cruces police confirmed one person was stabbed about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Walmart on Valley Drive. A suspect is in custody, police said.

UPDATE: Walmart stabbing suspect allegedly stabbed wife weeks ago

Multiple people on the social media page Las Cruces Community Watch said the person who was stabbed was a Walmart associate. Police could not confirm and officials at Walmart could not be reached for comment.

Police say Lawrence is suspected of trying to steal hatchets, knives, machetes, gloves, a hat and other items that, altogether, were valued at less than $250, from the Walmart at 1550 North Valley Drive. Complete article


Fleeing theft suspect injures 2 elderly shoppers at Englewood Colorado Walmart 02/21/2019

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Englewood police are trying to identify the man responsible for a theft and assault that occurred at the Walmart store at 601 Englewood Parkway last week.

According to a Crimestoppers bulletin, the suspect injured two elderly bystanders as he tried to flee the store following a theft around 2:40 p.m. on Feb. 15. The victims suffered serious injuries, the bulletin said. Complete article


Cheyenne Wyoming Walmart Reopens After Carbon Monoxide Forces Evacuation 02/20/2019

Man accused of exposing himself in car in Walmart parking lot 02/20/2019

80-year-old man's wheelchair stolen from Ca. Walmart 02/22/2019

GPD: She stole three TVs from one Fla. Walmart. Then she stole four more 02/22/2019

Man charged for insurance fraud, "accidentally" falls in Mississippi Walmart 02/22/2019

Police: Two men arrested for shoplifting chocolate milks at La. Walmart, drinking 02/21/2019

Man pleads guilty to robbing ND Walmart, Menards 02/21/2019

Police look to identify two wanted for questioning in Horry County SC Walmart shoplifting complaints 02/21/2019

Troopers: Woman charged with burglary at Halfmoon NY Walmart 02/21/2019

Chemung County NY Sheriff's office searching for WalMart customer in relation to missing cash 02/21/2019

Grand Traverse Co. Deputies Need Help Finding Suspects Who Stole From Mich. Walmart 02/21/2019

Police fatally shoot Walmart theft suspect in Mililani Hawaii; 2 others injured as fleeing pickup crashes 02/20/2019

Police fatally shot the driver of a pickup truck near the Mililani Walmart Wednesday evening and his two passengers were injured when the truck crashed, a Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman said.

Officers stopped the driver, who was a theft suspect, at the intersection of Anania Drive and Lanikuhana Avenue about 5:50 p.m., HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said.

The suspect rammed a police vehicle while attempting to flee. He was fatally shot and the truck hit a tree, she said.

The two passengers were transported to a hospital with crash-related injuries. One person was critically injured, said an official source, who asked not to be named.

HPD officials plan to hold a news conference Thursday on the shooting, Yu said.

Witnesses said undercover officers attempted to intercept a stolen Toyota pickup at the intersection.

A witness told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that an officer said the truck driver almost struck one of his partners. The officer then opened fire and hit the driver, according to the witness. Complete article


Judge reduces bail of man charged in Hobart Ind. Sept. 2018 Walmart shooting 02/22/2019

Walmart burglary suspect returned to Orangeburg SC to face charges 02/22/2019

Police: Warner Robins woman steals Valentine's handcuffs, fake nails from Ga. Walmart 02/22/2019

Man, woman employees found dead behind South Campbell Missouri Walmart doesn't appear to be suspicious, or does it? 02/22/2019

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield police say a man and woman were found dead in a car behind the Walmart Supercenter at Campbell and Walnut Lawn Friday afternoon.

Officers were called to check the well being of the individuals just after two p.m. The couple were found dead inside the vehicle.

Police Lieutenant Tony Vienhage says both were employees of Walmart, and both appear to be in their 20s. Their identities have not been released.

Vienhage says there are no signs of foul play, and the deaths do not appear to be suspicious. He says the bodies may have been there for several hours. Complete article

Autopsies Scheduled On Two Walmart Workers Found Dead 02/25/2019 Police consider the deaths suspicious, but say foul play is not suspected.

2 found dead outside Springfield Walmart Supercenter died of carbon monoxide 02/26/2019


Surveillance cameras capture man stealing from kiosk at Sullivan Missouri Walmart 02/22/2019

SULLIVAN, Mo. (KMOV.com) - A two-hour effort netted a thief $3,300 at a Walmart in Sullivan.

The man cracked open a kiosk that purchases cellphones and sits in the main entry to the store.

People walked in and out of the store as suspect carried out his crime on January 30. Complete article


Police respond to SD Walmart vehicle vs. pedestrian accident, drugs 02/22/2019

DA: Fatal May 2017 officer-involved shooting at Hesperia Ca. Walmart justified 02/22/2019

Investigators asking for help in identifying pair connected to Mich. Walmart theft 02/22/2019

Report: Two men overdose in Orangeburg SC Walmart 02/22/2019

2 Identity Thieves Arrested At Ill. Walmart On Jefferson: JPD 02/24/2019

Beavercreek Ohio legal bill $600K for deadly Walmart shooting 02/25/2019

Beavercreek has spent nearly $600,000 in legal costs related to the John Crawford III shooting, and the officer who fired the deadly shots is getting good reviews as a detective.

Beavercreek city law director Stephen McHugh confirmed that all of the $590,575 paid through early 2019 to multiple law firms has been paid by the city, not insurance companies.

McHugh provided the financial records after a public records request by the Dayton Daily News. A federal lawsuit filed by Crawford’s parents — initially scheduled earlier this month — now is scheduled for an October trial in Dayton’s U.S. District Court.

Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone and McHugh declined comment about the legal cost to city taxpayers.

“I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed that instead of accepting responsibility,” Crawford family attorney Michael Wright said, “the city of Beavercreek would spend $590,000, to date, defending the bad actions of these officers.” Complete article


Are you legally required to show your receipt when leaving a Walmart? | VERIFY 02/2/2019

FOLSOM, Calif. — If you've noticed some Walmarts in the area have started scanning your receipts when you leave, you're not alone.

The policy has gotten many people talking on Facebook, with some saying it's no big deal and others expressing concern. One person had a different kind of comment.

"You do not have to stop," he wrote. "There is no law stating as such."

So, is that true? Can you legally just not stop and show your receipt at a Walmart checkpoint?

Let's VERIFY.

To start, we can say that this is happening at the Folsom Walmart and others in the area. Not only did Walmart confirm it, but our ABC10 team went by the store and saw it happening.

Most people got stopped, but not everybody. That's what seemed to bother Carmen Ellis the most -- a customer who said she had recently been stopped and checked, while a few minutes later, her husband was not.

"It's almost like you're singling me out for the receipt. Do I look like a thief or what?" Ellis said. "I was kind of questioning it because, you know, my husband is white, and I'm a Hispanic."

What Folsom PD said: Sgt. Andrew Bates with the Folsom Police Department directed us to California Penal code 490.5, which states:

"(f) (1) A merchant may detain a person for a reasonable time for the purpose of conducting an investigation in a reasonable manner whenever the merchant has probable cause to believe the person to be detained is attempting to unlawfully take or has unlawfully taken merchandise from the merchant's premises."

In short: "To answer your question," Bates said. "A person would not have to stop unless the merchant had probable cause to believe the person had taken merchandise without paying."

VERIFY: Knowing that, we can verify that it's TRUE. You are not legally required to stop and show your receipt at a Walmart if you do not want to. Complete article


Aisle bump leads to fight among Pa. Walmart shoppers, cops say 02/24/2019

At least three shoppers began fighting when an adult man and a pair of teenagers collided in a Walmart aisle, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Fogelsville said the incident happened shortly before 4 p.m. this past Saturday at the store, 1091 Mill Creek Road, Lower Macungie Township. A 55-year-old man and two male teens somehow bumped into each, however, it was unclear what led them to collide.

Police said fighting then broke out; no serious injuries were reported as a result of the altercation. State police continue to investigate and the incident is being described as a “harassment” case. Complete article


Opinion: Why buying Walmart stock over Amazon is a better bet now 02/25/2019

Pa. Walmart cashier accused of stealing $200 from register 02/24/2019

Suspect wanted for trying to steal from Ill. Walmart 02/25/2019

Stolen vehicle suspects accused of shoplifting at Ga. Walmart 02/25/2019

Trial begins for man accused in Sept. 2016 Leesburg Fla. Walmart slaying 02/25/2019

Police: Suspect in Walmart meat theft tried to run over Worcester Mass. officer 02/25/2019

WORCESTER - A Worcester man who allegedly stole meat from Walmart backed his truck into a police officer who confronted him in the store parking lot, according to police. The officer had to draw his firearm at one point.

Police said James Lee, 34, of 19 Henchman St., allegedly did not pay for two packages of meat as he passed through the self-checkout section at Walmart on Tobias Boland Way about 7 p.m. Sunday. He was spotted by a police officer, who told Mr. Lee to return the meat to the store. According to police, Mr. Lee dropped his bags and ran. He got into his vehicle and, while backing from his parking spot, he backed into the officer, making contact, according to police. The officer was pushed backward and jumped out of the way, police said.

Mr. Lee then turned around his truck and headed at the officer, police said. The officer pulled his firearm and ordered him to stop. The truck stopped, and eventually Mr. Lee was removed from the vehicle. Complete article


Listeria in food facility means recall of veggies sold at Walmart 02/25/2019

Pompano Beach-based Southern Specialties recalled green beans and butternut squash sold at Walmarts in nine states after learning of a possible listeria problem.

The recall announcement on Southern Specialties’ website says, “Although no actual food product has tested positive for the bacterium, a table surface at the supplier’s facility tested positive during a routine test.”

So, selected lots of Marketside Bagged Green Beans in 32-ounce and 12-ounce bags and Marketside Bagged Butternut Squash in 16-ounce bags have come off the shelves of Walmarts in Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Complete article


Walmart's 'Baby Savings Day' leaves customers disappointed 02/25/2019

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Some Walmart customers were upset with the retail giant after an advertised sale that would've slashed prices on baby items didn't go as planned.

Walmart advertised super-low prices on strollers, car seats and other baby essentials to help out new and expectant parents.

'Baby Savings Day' was advertised by the company as month-long discounts on baby essentials, topped off with an in-store event providing demo baby gear and goodie bags scheduled for Feb. 23.

"We really didn't find anything, we [were] very disappointed," said Tawana DePrima.

DePrima says she came to the Walmart at Sheila Lane with her daughter, an expectant mother of two, but found no semblance of a 'Baby Savings Day' event.

She said they picked up a few small items, but they were not on sale.

"Things are quite expensive. And to hope that you will kind of get a little break with the arrival of the children, and not to find any is kind of sad," she said.

Another customer said during her visit, she was at the very least given two coupons, and that employees claimed that the sales were a media hoax. Complete article


DC Ending Walmart Exclusivity for '100-Page Giant' Comics 02/25/2019

DC publisher Dan DiDio says the line will add more original material and move into the comic book specialty store market later this year.

Addressing speculation about the fate of the Walmart-exclusive 100-Page Giant line following leaks from last weekend’s ComicPRO meeting in North Carolina, DC publisher Dan DiDio has revealed that significant changes are coming to the line — but that’s good news for most parties involved.

Following rumors from the comic book industry meeting that the line, which recently expanded to six titles — The Flash and Swamp Thing joining Superman, Batman and the newly retitled Titans and Wonder Woman — would be ending soon, DiDio clarified that the inverse was true, and that the only thing ending was Walmart’s exclusivity. Complete article


Walmart to host ‘Baby Savings Day’ this Saturday at select stores 02/20/2019

Thurmont woman arrested after allegedly stealing from Westminster Md. Walmart 02/25/2019

Woman accused of theft by scanning cheaper items at Warsaw Ind. Walmart 02/25/2019

Woman charged with stealing from Mattoon Ill. Walmart 02/26/2019

Police: Defendant In 2018 Walmart Assaults Returned To Store 02/26/2019 A man who assaulted four people in September 2018 in the Greeneville Walmart and then allegedly re-entered the store on Feb. 1 was served ...

Walmart commits to reducing plastic waste 02/26/2019

Ephrata Pa. police seek help identifying Walmart theft suspect 02/26/2019

Woman says driver pointed gun at her, 2 children near Charlotte NC Walmart 02/27/2019

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A male driver pointed a gun at a 32-year-old female driver, who had two children in her car, at a stoplight near the Walmart, the victim said.

"I was thinking they wanted to get over, so I signaled for them to get in front of me," the woman, who did not want to be identified, said.

The woman said it happened at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. as she was turning from North Tryon Street into the Walmart Supercenter. Complete article


Teen girl’s report that man followed her home from Godfrey Ill. Walmart leads to child porn charge 02/26/2019

GODFREY — An Alton man is charged with child pornography after he attracted police attention by allegedly photographing a teenage girl in the parking lot of Walmart in Godfrey.

Brenden L. Sykes, 25, of the first block of Courtesy Lane, is accused of possessing an image of a female under the age of 18 in a lewd pose. The picture of the nude female in the charging document is not a picture of the teen who originally reported being followed at Walmart. Complete article


Suspect carjacks man at gunpoint, drives into pole in San Antonio Tx. Walmart parking lot: SAPD 02/26/2019

SAN ANTONIO - A suspect who police said broke into a car in a Walmart parking lot, then stole it at gunpoint from its owner, has been arrested.

Jacob Scott Rowinsky, 33, was taken into custody Monday morning after being on the run for over a month.

Police said officers on Jan. 15 responded to the Walmart store in the 8900 block of West Military Drive on the city's West Side for a robbery of an individual report. Complete article


Buyer beware: Scourge of fake reviews hitting Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers 02/27/2019

Fake reviews are increasingly prevalent across many top retailer websites, according to a study from Fakespot, which analyzes online customer reviews for fake or unreliable reviews.

52 percent of reviews posted on Walmart.com are "inauthentic and unreliable," Fakespot estimates

30 percent of Amazon reviews are fake or unreliable, the study found

About a third of reviews on makeup retailer Sephora and video-game service Steam are also unreliable or fake, the analysis discovered

"My advice is to be very skeptical" when reading online reviews, said Saoud Khalifah, CEO of Fakespot

The fake reviews threaten to undermine the credibility of retailers struggling with the influx, according to Fakespot, which uses algorithms to look for patterns of deception in reviews. Manufacturers are eager to earn 5-star reviews that can push their products to the top of a search result on Amazon, for instance, with some turning to trickery to make their products stand out.

"You need a lot of good positive reviews to convince people to check out their products," said Khalifah, who wrote a software program to detect fake reviews after getting tricked himself by glowing reviews for a sleep supplement. After the supplement didn't work, he realized many of those positive reviews were fake.

Khalifah said his research "tells me that 1 in 3 reviews on any of these platform is highly unreliable. They have been influenced by people at the company [making or marketing the product that's sold on the website] or written by people hired by the company. There is a lot of bias in the reviews." Complete article


FedEx reveals a package-delivering robot backed by Walmart, Target, and Lowe's that can climb stairs, carry hot food, and replace human workers 02/27/2019

FedEx revealed a cutting-edge robot on Wednesday that could replace human delivery workers.

The FedEx Same-Day Bot can deliver packages and hot food from stores and restaurants to customers' homes. It will be hitting the streets this summer in select markets, including Memphis, Tennessee, the company said.

FedEx said it collaborated with retailers including Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Pizza Hut, and Walgreens to develop the technology, which it said would "change the face of local delivery." Complete article


In first Israeli acquisition, Walmart purchases start-up Aspectiva 02/27/2019

American retail giant Walmart has acquired Tel Aviv-based product review start-up Aspectiva for an undisclosed sum, the corporation announced on Tuesday.

The company, Walmart’s first acquisition in Israel, will join Walmart’s “Store No. 8” incubation arm but will continue to operate from its Tel Aviv offices under the agreement.

Aspectiva, established in 2013 by Ezra Daya and Eyal Hurwitz, utilizes artificial intelligence and natural language processing technology to analyze large volumes of consumer opinions and turn data into valuable insights and informed recommendations for purchasers. Complete article


WPP Hires Walmart Executive To Run Its Global HR Efforts 02/27/2019

WPP has hired Walmart executive Jacqui Canney as its new global chief people officer.

Carney will be responsible for WPP’s global talent organization and lead all aspects of people strategy, rewards, talent management, recruiting, and leadership development and learning.

WPP said Carney will build her own talent team that will work with leaders throughout the company “to help build a new culture that empowers people to do their best work.” Complete article


Will P&G pay to advertise in Walmart stores? 02/27/2019

Walmart Inc. hopes to boost profits by charging for in-store and online advertising by some of the retailer’s biggest suppliers, including Procter & Gamble Co.

Arkansas-based Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is P&G’s biggest customer, accounting for about $9 billion of P&G’s total of $66.8 billion in annual sales.

The Cincinnati-based maker of consumer goods such as Pampers diapers (NYSE: PG) spends $7 billion a year on advertising worldwide, but a spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a Business Courier request for comment on whether P&G plans to pay for ads with Walmart. Complete article This is a variation of "slotting fees" which have been common for decades although they rarely mention it to the public; because it's designed to give Oligarchs preferential treatment and contradicts claims about fair competition! P&G has been one of the few that don't pay slotting fees because they spend so much on adverting. Either advertising expenses or slotting fees are funds that could be used to improve products or pass savings on to customers, and is a form of price fixing.


Two women leave Walmart deli without paying for food 02/26/2019

Thief caught on camera in the act at Dalton Ga. Walmart 02/27/2019

Jurors hear more evidence in Sept. 2016 Fla. Walmart shooting trial 02/26/2019

Conway SC police seek help in Walmart fraud incident 02/27/2019

Police seek Sidney T. Ogletree, 28, in Sept. 2018 Blue Springs Kansas Walmart shooting, call him ‘armed and dangerous’ 02/27/2019

Walmart shutting down Neighborhood Market store in Chesterfield Va. 02/27/2019

Fla. Walmart shooter guilty of murder in Sept. 2016 drug slaying 02/27/2019

Pass the Cash: Ky. Walmart employee receives help in midst of car, housing issues 02/27/2019

Man gets jail time for July 2018 Wisc. Walmart attack caught on surveillance video 02/27/2019

Walmart theft led to low-speed police chase through Baraboo Wisc. 02/27/2019

Tucson Ariz. Police investigating homicide at eastside Walmart 02/28/2019

TUCSON, Ariz. - Tucson Police are investigating a homicide at a Walmart located on the eastside near Speedway and Kolb.

According to Tucson Police. The incident happened around midnight.

Sgt. Dugan with TPD says officers arrived on scene and located a young man with obvious signs of gunshot trauma. The man was pronounced deceased shortly after.

Police then learned an SUV fled the scene after the shooting occurred, leading to officers finding the vehicle in the 8600 block of east Old Spanish Trail.

Officers approached the vehicle, which was still occupied, and detained the people inside.

Early information says the SUV had been in the Walmart parking lot before the incident, which was occupied by several individuals including the now deceased man, who police are calling the suspect of this incident.

Dugan says the suspect got out of the SUV holding a gun and approached another vehicle with a man inside. This lead to an altercation involving gunfire that killed the gunman who approached the car. The other man, who police are calling the victim, stayed on scene to cooperate with police. Complete article

TPD identifies people involved in homicide in Walmart parking lot 02/28/2019

According to officials, Allen and Carranza exited the SUV armed with handguns. They approached a man sitting in his vehicle, attempting to steal the vehicle. The victim pulled out a handgun of his own and shot Allen multiple times.

Carranza then fled to the SUV, which and left the scene. Police say the SUV was stolen on Feb. 20.

Carranza was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery and attempted aggravated robbery. Francisco Morales was arrested and charged with theft of means of transportation.

Three arrested by Tucson Police for homicide at eastside Walmart 02/28/2019


Walmart Expands Private Fleet Delivery, Adds New Intermodal Service 02/27/2019

Walmart has begun expanding the scope and capabilities of its private fleet, taking over store distribution from dedicated contract carriers at facilities in Maine, Indiana and Ohio, while also adding a new intermodal service using a proprietary container design and company drivers to provide drayage service.

The world’s largest retailer employs more than 8,000 drivers and uses its fleet of more than 6,400 tractors and 60,000 trailers to deliver goods to the vast majority of its 4,700 stores in the United States. Complete article


Northside Lafayette La. Walmart will close March 29, 300 workers could be looking for new jobs 02/27/2019

Two Grand Forks residents allegedly steal $1,000 worth of items from ND Walmart 02/27/2019

San Diego Ca. Police: Woman uses fake ID to open Walmart credit cards 02/26/2019

House fire shuts down all lanes of Midlothian Turnpike in Chetserfield Va. near Walmart 02/28/2019

Police ask the public's assistance in catching Delaware Walmart battery bandit 02/28/2019

Walmart neighborhood store on Broad River Road Columbia SC closing The store had only been open for about three years. 02/28/2019

Three Teenagers Arrested Outside Walmart For Burglary of vehicle 02/28/2019

Man accused of flashing elderly woman in NC Walmart parking lot 02/28/2019

Walmart greeter with cerebral palsy to keep job at NC store, but with a twist 02/28/2019

All suspects in Pooler Ga. homicide arrested 02/28/2019

The two remaining suspects in a Saturday homicide near the Sam’s Club in Pooler have been arrested.

On Thursday, U.S. Marshals Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Deandre and Cierra Mims at a residence in Riverdale, a city in Clayton County.

At a press conference Thursday, Pooler Police Chief Ashley Brown said he was relieved to announce the arrests after a five-day investigation.

“In less than a week, this is one of the biggest operations that we’ve had since I’ve been chief here, and I can tell you that it went well,” Brown said. “We have a very competent investigations staff here in Pooler, and we could not have done this without the help of our local agencies and brothers and sisters.”

The third and final suspect, Rhondalyn Butler, was arrested Saturday night after leading police on a chase from Pooler to Windsor Forest.

The 22-year-old victim of the shooting, Quaniqwa Lee, died Sunday night, according to Chatham County Coroner Bill Wessinger. Complete article

3 indicted in deadly shooting at Pooler’s Sams Club 04/18/2019


Gunfire exchanged in Va. Walmart parking lot at Manassas Mall 03/01/2019

Prince William police are investigating shots fired between two vehicles in the parking lot of a Walmart in the Manassas area.

Witnesses said that two vehicles were in the parking lot of the store at 8386 Sudley Road shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 27 when the occupants of one of the vehicles got out and approached the other vehicle, a Chevrolet SUV, police spokesperson Officer Renee Carr said.

“There appeared to be a disagreement between them and when the individuals on foot ran back to their vehicle, one of them discharged a handgun multiple times in the direction of the SUV,” Carr said.

The witnesses reported shots being fired from the SUV as it drove out of the parking lot towards Rixlew Drive. Both vehicles and all involved fled the scene prior to police arrival. Complete article


Stolen Apple Watch helps victim track suspects to California Walmart, cops say 02/28/2019

Stealing an Apple Watch can have GPS-tracking implications, as a pair of Northern California burglary suspects learned Thursday, according to police.

A 25-year-old woman left her Redding home unlocked in the morning while she took her child to school because her husband was still home, police said in a news release.

But when the woman returned home around 8 a.m., she spotted a “suspicious” vehicle across the street — as well as a man wearing a mask, according to police.

The woman used her garage to walk into her house and saw that the front door was open, so she yelled to wake up her husband and soon realized that belongings were missing, “leading her to believe the residence had just been burglarized,” police said.

Among the possessions that had disappeared: an Apple Watch, according to the news release.

Because the watch had GPS capabilities, the woman checked to see where it was and discovered the stolen device was quickly heading north, away from her house in East Redding, police said.

The woman couldn’t describe what the suspicious car looked like to an officer who responded, but the woman told the officer she’d know it if she saw it, so she and the officer checked the Apple Watch again and saw that it looked like it was near a Walmart, police said. Complete article


Police seek Pa. Walmart retail theft suspect 02/28/2019

Walmart video provided in Florence Colorado Dec. 23 murder case in a home not at Walmart 02/28/2019



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