A former Best Buy security guard says he hasn’t yet heard back from Best Buy after they fired him for tackling a shoplifter. The company reportedly said it had a change of heart and are now offering him his job back.
FOX News reports that Tyler, a former Best Buy security guard, made a quick decision to tackle an alleged shoplifter after he saw the man punch an officer in the face and flee. The incident happened on January 11 at the Roseville Best Buy in California.
“There was a guy who walked by and when he got by his car, a bunch of undercover sheriffs came over to arrest him,” Tyler explained. “He started running past me and I thought I was doing the right thing by stopping him.”
#NEW: A security guard at Best Buy is seen in surveillance – tackling a suspect who punched a deputy while resisting arrest at this Roseville shopping center. The man was later arrested – but the security guard was fired for violating company policy. @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/U3SHsz9Zbj
— Charmaine Nero (@CNeroTV) January 27, 2019
According to Lt. Andrew Scott, spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tyler sprang into action after he saw the reported shoplifter hit one of the detectives at the scene.
“When they confronted him, the man punched one of the detectives and tried to run off, that’s when the security guard tackled the man, preventing him from escaping.”
Deputies arrested the suspect afterward, identified as Timothy Trujillo, 35. A week later, Tyler was fired.
“My manager called me in and said corporate decided to let me go because I used excessive force and it was against Best Buy’s policy to intervene,” Tyler said.
Best Buy’s policies apparently prohibit employees from chasing shoplifters and “potential criminals” out of the store, due to safety reasons. Tyler, however, an Army veteran, explained the decision happened quickly, and his only thought was stopping an alleged criminal.
“Seemed like it was the right thing, like I said it was someone running from the cops, seemed like the logical thing to do.”
Best Buy later decided the decision to first Tyler likely wasn’t the right thing to do. The company released a statement explaining its actions and offered the man his job back.
“We made a decision to terminate our employee for violating our clear policies but have had reason to take another look at what happened. In the end, we understand he made a split-second decision to do what he thought was right and, while we wish he hadn’t put himself or anyone else at risk, we regret our initial decision and will be offering him his job back.”
[Feature Photo: Timothy Trujillo/Police Handout]
