A Target store security officer
has reportedly been fired for reporting a shoplifter to police.
Dallas Northington, 29, was an
assets-protection specialist at Target for nearly eight years.
At the Leesburg Target store in
May he encountered what was a typical occurrence for his position in loss
prevention: a shoplifting caught-on-camera.
Northington claims he did what
he always had in the past. He contacted the Leesburg police, made a report, and
provided videos of the two incidents where the suspect was found shoplifting,
reports The Washington Post.
One small detail was unknown to
Northington, and that small detail would be the cause of what happened next.
The shoplifter may have been a
Fairfax County sheriff’s deputy.
Northington was allegedly fired
from his position shortly after his report.
The alleged shoplifting deputy
reportedly retired from the sheriff’s office around the same time.
According to Northington,
Target officials told him he was fired for violating procedure. The company
claims he did not fill out the proper paperwork before contacting the police.
Target also reportedly cited him with insubordination, claiming he did not seek
the proper approvals.
Northington claims he followed
the same procedure as had always been done by his office and that standard
practice was for him to “act as needed” in these matters.
“In my eight years, I’ve never
had to call anyone to give out the video or to call police,” Northington said.
“I have never seen any policy about contacting law enforcement.”
At this time, no arrest has
been made against the alleged shoplifting deputy, even though Northington
provided the man’s name and two color videos showing him shoplifting with his
face clearly visible.
Northington says the man was
recognized on video by a Leesburg police sergeant investigating the case, and
store supervisor’s knew the man by name.
The investigation by the
Leesburg police is ongoing, and a spokesman said they are still trying to
confirm the suspect’s identity.
Legal action is being
considered by Northington.
“I’m confused and don’t
understand why,” Northington said. “I’ve been there for eight years, no issues.
I’m just trying to provide for my family, and I just really want to get back to
work.”
Target corporate spokeswoman,
Molly Snyder, declined to comment on the shoplifting incident due to privacy
reasons.
Snyder did make the following
comment in regards to Northington’s case: “We have conducted a full
investigation and don’t believe there is any merit to this individual’s
claims.”
Declan Leonard, Northington’s
attorney, said his client “intends to fight Target on this for as long as it
takes.”
