Shoplifted Security Brutality?

What I did was stupid I do not deny that. I am not pursuing this in an attempt to prove my innocence, or act as if i did not break the law. I attempted to shop lift a can of acne cream because I was too embarrassed to pay for it. This is not an excuse I know. I left the store and was confronted by an undercover security guard, he asked me to remove the goods from my pocket. I did so, and he took them. At no point did he present any identification, I just assumed he worked for the drug store. I pleaded with him to let me go back and pay for the goods, I told him it was stupid, and that I was wrong. He said I was going back and that they would be pressing charges. At this point I panicked and ran. He caught up with me and though it was with in his power to just stop me, he smashed my face into some scaffolding resulting in a puncture wound on the back of my head, a severe laceration to my cheek, a bruised knee, a number of other cuts on my face, and severe bruising. I required 10 stitches. It was only after my injuries that the officer stated he was an undercover, though he never showed any identification. They decided not to press charges, in light of my injuries. Do I have any sort of case against the department store? Is this not a case of security brutality?
Additional Details
By smashed into the scaffolding I mean he caught my jacket and swung me into the scaffolding. A police officer came to see me at the hospital. He asked for my details and left. I found out from my mom after that he had spoken to her before he talked to me. He told her that the security guard had told the police officer that he had his arm on me and I broke away. This is not true, at no point did anyone ever have an arm on me. He also told him that I had ran into the scaffolding by accident when I turned around to see if he was gaining on me. Again not true, and i have rip marks on my jacket to prove it.

7 hours ago
There was a witness. Some guy pulled over his car because he thought two guys were just assaulting me, he waited with me until the ambulance came.

thementalist63

Next time you want to escape a Security Guard, throw a bag of Big Macs across the store. I bet he or she will chase after them. If I were you, I would sue the Security Guard, the store, and the Security Guard's Company.

Weekend Repairman

Identification or not you were confronted, you gave up the goods, and upon a simple explanation of what was going to happen, you ran.

By running, you layed into motion a sequence of events that could have only been stopped in one of two ways. 1.) You stop running. 2.) You are stopped from running.

I can only imagine from your own initial description that the officer gained enough ground to reach out and grab you by the jacket or shirt tail, which in turn caused you to yaw into the scaffolding.

DR. phil of sh*t

Zits don't seem so bad now do they.
Bottom line you commit the crime you run and now you want to cry about the outcome.
you got what you deserve deal with it.

Mad Viking

You got off easy if you ask me. You should still be brought up on charges, despite being injured.

Here's a tip:

If you want to avoid being thrown to the ground (or into stuff) by security/police...don't freaking break the law.

yourbuddy

Ok you absolutely have a case. There is no job powers that are carried by a "security guard" or in this case, "lost prevention" that would allow them to use that type of "force" against you. They are allowed to defend themselves or others, but to run after you and throw you to the ground causing injury to you is not covered in the scope of their duties, even if they posses a "guard card". As a Police officer, i would even be liable if I were to chase after you and use force against you for a misdemeanor petty theft, when in fact I had recovered the simple can of face cream. I would have to justify using that amount of force on you, so I can definitely say that a lost prevention guard, with his oh so holy guard card, cannot. The company did not want to press charges against you because they are afraid that they will be sued. You not only have a case against the company, but you also have a case against the security company if he works for one. Sometimes in Law Enforcement you have to let minor stuff go, and in this case, he should have let you run off. Good luck, and don't shop lift anymore, its not worth it.

Reply to specs481:
Well why don't you look up any policy for any store security and or Lost prevention or even ask one of your security guard friends, and I will guarantee that they are not allowed to chase and use force against someone, especially after the 4 dollar can of face cream has been returned. Also, I opened up my email so please feel free to email sometime so I can take you on a ride along anytime your in Los Angeles County. It would be my pleasure to introduce you to REAL law enforcement!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sue the bast*** and the department store, and the company he works for. I become enraged when I hear stories. please sue them all. get an attorney, and don't let anyone try to justify what they did by saying you shoplifted. You have all the marks on your body and clothing. You can hire an expert witness in forensics. make sure it gets into the news too. this is the only way to beat him up and anyone that condones this beastly behavior. Go for it. yes and he should be charged with assault.

All of you hang 'em high folks...let it happen to you once. Then you'll change your mind...unless you've been trained to believe it's ok to behave like an animal, which you probably do.

Mary

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grannynightgown

You may have a case against the department store. The "undercover officer" who detained you was NOT a police officer, merely a store security guard. They are NOT allowed to do the same things police officers do. And while they are allowed to use some force, they are not allowed to beat you up if you run.

Note that they probably dropped the charges because they are afraid that you will sue them. Personally, I would not only try to sue them, but attempt to press assault charges against the security guard that did this to you. But realize that if you do this, they may try to prosecute you for shoplifting again (although shoplifting a can of acne cream would carry very little penalty).

You should probably contact a lawyer.

Tanya S

you should talk to a lawyer, you may be able to sue
kindof ironic that someone shoplifting could end up suing the ppl they were shoplifting from but that's how this crazy world is

specs481

woah... "yourbuddy".. if you're an officer at all, you must be a damn new one.. there's no case. you chose to run, and you were stopped. simple as that. any lawyer who would take that case should never be allowed to practice again!!!

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