HoustonChronicle.com – Answers sought in death outside Wal-Mart
Answers sought in death outside Wal-Mart
Man accused of theft begged to be let up from hot pavement, witness saysBy ROBERT CROWE and S.K. BARDWELL
Copyright 2005 Houston ChronicleA man suspected of shoplifting goods from an Atascocita Wal-Mart — including diapers and a BB gun — had begged employees to let him up from the blistering pavement in the store’s parking lot where he was held, shirtless, before he died Sunday, a witness said.
An autopsy for the man, identified as Stacy Clay Driver, 30, of Cleveland, was scheduled for Monday, but officials said results probably would be delayed by a wait for toxicology tests.
Driver’s family, as well as one emergency worker, are questioning company procedure, including whether Wal-Mart workers administered CPR after they realized he needed medical attention.
When Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department paramedics arrived, Driver was in cardiac arrest, said Royce Worrell, EMS director. Worrell said Monday he heard from investigators that Wal-Mart employees administered CPR to Driver, but he was not sure that happened.
“When we got there, the man was facedown (in cardiac arrest) with handcuffs behind his back,” Worrell said. “That’s not indicative of someone given CPR.”
Wal-Mart employees referred calls to the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, where homicide detectives are investigating the death.
“We’re just not able to provide any comment at this time … ,” said Christi Gallagher, spokeswoman at Wal-Mart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark….
That’s why I don’t shop there….
3 Responses
What a terrible story. I don’t care what this man may, or may not, have taken. Whatever it was, his life was vastly more precious. We collectively lose a part of our humanity when this kind of disregard for another occurs.
I haven’t shopped at Walmart for years. I don’t appreciate the way they treat their workers, the manner in which they aquire their products, and what happens to communities when they move in. Now a story like this. It somehow seems to fit the Walmart legacy.
There must be something about Texas that makes death a preferred treatment of its citizens. The ex-gov is probably applauding this behavior of Walmart’s employees. They’ll probably get special medals (with dead exploded frogs embossed on them). –jws
Wal-Mart almost Killed Me On August 23, 2003. Wal-Mart Employees assulted me, accused me of crimes, Lied to the police but were afraid to go in front of the grand jury as I did. I was no-Billed. I Have a Law suit pending in District Court Bexar,County, Texas. Wal-Mart does not care who they Kill chasing the Dollar. They don’t care if you are innocent or guility when they molest customers because the Loss Prevention Department At Wal-Mart is a profit center and they make a profit when they have some arrested or they kill them. Its all the same to them.