I am sure this grandpa was not shoplifting and is a victim of these unprofessional mall cops or store security whatever term you prefer.

I will look forward to the real facts comeing out on this, Icant imagine a grandfather useing his grand kid to steal a discounted video game. Seems pretty absurd.

I agree, the greedy store owners need to limit the crowds.
Even so, face down hard enough to bust your face open seems extreme to me.

PHOENIX – Police in suburban Buckeye were under fire Friday when a video was posted online showing a grandfather on the floor of a Walmart store with a bloody face after police said he was subdued trying to shoplift during a chaotic rush for discounted video games.

The video, posted on YouTube, shows 54-year-old Jerald Allen Newman unconscious and covered in blood after a police officer took him to the ground Thursday night.


Officers in the video are shown trying to sop up blood as outraged customers yell expletives and say "that's police brutality" and "he wasn't doing anything."

"Are you sure that was necessary for shoplifting?" said one shopper. "Why would you throw him down so hard?"

In a police report that redacted the names of officers and witnesses, Newman's wife and other witnesses said he was just trying to help his grandson after the boy was trampled by shoppers, and only put a video game in his waistband to free his hands to help the boy.

Larry Hall, assistant chief of Buckeye police, said Newman was resisting arrest and it appeared the officer acted within reason.

Hall did not immediately release the name of the officer, who was hired off-duty by Walmart with five other officers to deal with the large crowd the store anticipated.

Hall said a Walmart employee alerted the officer involved that Newman had put a video game in his waistband, and that the officer approached Newman and started to arrest him.

When he had handcuffs on one of Newman's wrists, Hall said Newman told the officer, "I'm not going to jail," and started pulling away and flailing.

Hall said Newman continued resisting and the officer decided to do a leg sweep and take him to the ground.

"Unfortunately, the suspect landed on his head," Hall said.

The officer involved wrote in the police report that he yelled at Newman to "stop resisting!" before deciding to take him to the ground.

"The store was incredibly crowded, and I was concerned about other customers' safety and possibly getting involved," he wrote. "I then utilized a leg sweep with my right leg as I pulled down with my arms to take Jerald to the ground to better affect the arrest and protect the other shoppers."

The report said that Newman's grandson was treated and released for his injuries by firefighters at the scene.

Hall said an administrative review will be conducted to assess the officer's use of force, but it appeared to be justified.

"The officer didn't lift the guy over his head and slam him to the ground," Hall said. "He used a minimum amount of force, the suspect resisted arrest, and the officer actually could have escalated his use of force. But he didn't. He used his hands to take the suspect into custody."

An ambulance took Newman to the hospital, where he got four stitches for a cut on the left side of his forehead. His nose was also bloodied but not broken, Hall said.

Newman was then booked into the Maricopa County jail on suspicion of shoplifting and resisting arrest.

The police report describes a chaotic scene around a discounted video game stand at the Walmart as customers were made to wait until a 10 p.m. release.

About 200 people surrounded the stand and inched closer and closer despite officers warning them to stay back.

"I observed the crowd rush in and attack the cardboard displays with video games flying through the air and the cardboard displays being thrown around and broken completely down flat on the ground," one officer wrote in the report.

Another officer described seeing a man get trampled and helping him to safety, while another officer saw a woman walking away from the stand with a young girl who was crying and holding her mouth in pain.

One customer reported that people yanked three video games from his hands, leaving him empty-handed.

One witness told police that he saw Newman put a game under his shirt and try to get his grandson out of the area, but Newman appeared to just be trying to get to safety without someone grabbing the video game out of his hands.

Police found Newman's 8- or 9-year-old grandson crying after the incident and turned him over to his grandmother, who police described as hysterical.

"The wife was so upset and told me Jerald was just trying to protect his grandson that got trampled in the crowd and just placed a video game under his shirt while grabbing his grandson to get out of the crowd," wrote one officer.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/25/arizona-grandfather-roughed-up-by-police-in-walmart/#ixzz1elhTaZu7

The statement that several people heard about not going to jail or back to jail AND resisting just helps the cop. If the guy was for s ome reason in the right he should have just cooperated, got a ticket and fight it in court.

No doubt things should have been handled differently by both Newman and the cops. Particularly on behalf of the cops. Going by about 10 different articles (and watching the video) I think Newman had no intention of shoplifting and everything that he did makes sense to me. It wasn't exactly an average day to start with. It was early on Black Friday with chaos all around (especially right at that moment and spot). I'd imagine that Newman's temperament at the moment would be like driving in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic x1000 (which could explain 'possibly' resisting arrest). I mean, If I was already aggravated and wasn't doing anything wrong and the first thing on my mind is helping my young grandson, then some cop tries putting cuffs on me, hell yeah, I'd be just a bit pizzed! If he WAS (that's still not determined) arrested or in jail before (guilty or not), that could further add to his reaction. All sources seem to agree that his grandson indeed receive a busted lip in the commotion, so that backs up his story about trying to help him from the mob of people. At first instinct, if there's 100 people all grabbing, pushing, running over, etc(essentially a riot) and my grandchild/kid/whatever was in danger, I wouldn't think twice about sticking a game in my belt temporarily to clear up both arms and do what needed done. One report said that he had roughly $600 worth of electronics already in a cart, so it would appear that he had all intention to pay for the game. If he WAS there to steal anything, wouldn't common sense say that he'd steal something easy and not something that was surrounded by a hundred people all with their eyes on the same thing? Let alone on Black Friday with tons of people and 'real' cops there to start with! I've had PLENTY of experience with thieves and know their game. I've known some of the best of the best and to this day am still amazed as to how they managed to pull off some of the stuff they've done, but TYPICALLY this guy doesn't seem to 'fit' as trying to steal anything.

On the other side....... The officer's actions should be held to a MUCH higher standard. ESPECIALLY because he IS a real cop and should know better. Even though in Arizona concealment is a basis for arrest, the cop didn't actually see Newman 'stash' the game. A Wal-Mart guard told the cop after having custody of him. Even though, I have a feeling that Newman would have put the game in the cart with the rest of the items as soon as his grandson was out of danger and all would be good. Instead, the cop seemingly didn't bother asking questions to see what the story was and immediately tried throwing the cuffs on (That would pizz me off a bit, hence Newman's 'resist'). This whole thing also makes me wonder why he was so gung-ho about catching somebody 'supposedly' stealing a $50 game while there this 'riot' going on(shows a little about his priorities). Now to the main point; excessive use of force. I think there was. Newman isn't some huge 20 year old just wreaking of trouble. He's a medium/small medium sized (going by the video) 54 year old guy (with a small child). I don't know if the officer was the one in the video, but he was about twice the size of Newman (and likely had mace/pepper spray at hand as an alternative). The cop couldn't subdue him any other way other than a leg-sweep (in an "incredibly crowded" store with a bare concrete floor)? I'd guess also had the help of the 'mall guard' if needed. He said it was to 'protect' other shoppers. Really? There were shoppers in danger from Newman? Guess he missed all the other people shoving, pushing, grabbing, throwing punches, climbing over, etc. "Another officer described seeing a man get trampled and helping him to safety, while another officer saw a woman walking away from the stand with a young girl who was crying and holding her mouth in pain." There were only 6 cops there, right? Apparently he was the one who missed the bus and was still in Never Never Land and missed all of that. The asst. police chief said "We're not sure if this is supposed to happen in a leg sweep, but the suspect's head struck the concrete floor violently, knocking Newman out.". Hmmmm. Not sure if that's supposed to happen? So, he thinks that maybe the cop did intend to bounce this 54 y/o's head off the concrete because of a POSSIBLE misdemeanor? Or is it that he just doesn't know what can happen when you do a leg sweep on concrete? Let's see......I have this metal gas can and I'm not sure how much is in there. Man....it's dark in there.... I think I'll use my lighter as a flashlight so I can see down in there.... BOOM!!!! I wasn't sure it would blow up and take your house with it, but it's all good since I wasn't sure it would happen.....

Typically an honest person would drop the merchandise. In 12 years I have NEVER seen someone put merchandise in the waistband of their pants just to free up their hands. If it was an emergency situation F the merchandise, he would have tossed it, not conceal it.

Typically an honest person would drop the merchandise. In 12 years I have NEVER seen someone put merchandise in the waistband of their pants just to free up their hands. If it was an emergency situation F the merchandise, he would have tossed it, not conceal it.

It happens on a daily basis. Unfortunatly you just want to pick a fight and argue with people who do work in this field and who see what these creeps do on a daily basis and it is sickening. I have seen people bring kids in with them when they steal because they know the cops wont want to deal with CPS and wont take them to jail. I have had people conceal merchandise on their kids, I have seen them encourage the kids to steal and even in one case when I called a mother to pick up a juvenile who was stealing she made the comment to him when she got there, "Is that all you were able to get?"...........

it takes no more thought or effort to drop it than to drop it in the waist,, honesty really has little to do with that decision...

Just one example, in the early-mid 90's I worked at a garage in a pretty bad neighborhood where crackheads and such were rampant. As often goes with heavy drug users in that area, many supported their habits via stealing. The shop owners weren't completely on the 'up and up', so they partook on the 'very cheaply priced merchandise' regularly from the bands of thieves. There were quite a few of them who 'had standards' and only stole from stores and were VERY good at it. I never got involved with those dealings, but I was around those people PLENTY. You name it, they'd come back with it in hours. Snow blowers, lawn mowers, bed spreads, pillows, movies, games, you name it. Lot's of which you can't exactly just stuff in your pocket. Of course, after knowing them long enough and becoming 'friends' I learned how they managed to get alot of the stuff, but, to this day.....still mezmorizes me as to how for some. Some go alone. Some with their husband/wife. Some with parents. Some go with their kids. Some have their kids help. That's just the tip of the iceberg. You name it, I've likely seen it. Lp, you might think you've seen it all, but you only see one side. Even then, only from the one's who DO get caught(usually the stupid ones). Then likely, not much about them since you time spent with them is minimal and well, for only one easy reason. You don't know what's in their heads. I do (for the most part). I've never was (or will be) a thief, but I've spent decades being friends with alot of them. Hey, better friend than enemy. I won't lie, yes, I've been on the wrong side of the law PLENTY (in the FAR past) and even been locked up here and there (driving/partying/etc related. Nothing violent/stealing/drug related/ or major). At the same time, I've spent most of my life on the 'right side' of the law. I have LOTS of family/friends who are REAL cops(local/county and state), constables, judges, etc. so, I truly cam be biased (I'm in the automotive field).

it takes no more thought or effort to drop it than to drop it in the waist,, honesty really has little to do with that decision...

The hell it does. Someone whos not a crook doesn't instinctivly put something in the waistband of their pants.

I may not have seen it all but I've seen a lot and it's not just the stupid ones that get caught. I have taken plenty of professionals and organized retail rings out over the years. ou may have heard the stories from your *Friends* but I have experience them first hand.

After putting up with waiting in line with a ton of people after one thing with all doing all they can to get it, what would you do? As MsH said, it takes just as much effort to drop it as it would to put it in your beltline. In his frame of mind, I have no doubt that part of his brain is saying "MINE!". If 50/50 to start with, subconsciously, what's going to happen?

IM not a crook, I have put things under my arm, I probably would also put them in a waistband if I wore pants

Im sure, however many crooks you have encountered, you havent encountered EVERYONE to know what EVERYONE does or doesnt do in every situation,,,

I may not have WATCHED them while they've done those things, but when IN that 'circle', you KNOW. The only experience you have is from the outside looking in through a dark, dirty window with the hopes of a random lightning stike to light the way.