Video shows former football player body-slamming alleged shoplifter at Walmart
Video captured on a cellphone shows a Good Samaritan taking down an alleged shoplifter at a Wisconsin Walmart, holding him on the ground until police arrive.
Mark Hammer, 34, who is a former high school football defensive lineman, took action on Friday when he spotted a man who was allegedly attempting to flee a Greenfield, Wis., Walmart.
The video shows Hammer, who was shopping at the store, confronting the suspect as he allegedly attempted to leave with a number of unpaid video games in a black plastic bag, according to Milwaukee news station WITI-TV.
“When I grabbed him, all the merchandise fell down,” Hammer told the outlet. “The suspect pushed [an] employee down … an older gentleman. I didn’t like that and I said, ‘No, you are not going to do it.'”
“The suspect said he was going to have me arrested for assaulting him,” Hammer said. “I told him, ‘Well, I’m not assaulting you. I’m just holding you until the cops get here.'” Hammer made good on his word until the police arrived.
WITI-TV reported that the 39-year-old suspect was allegedly working with his 31-year-old girlfriend, who was being held by a loss prevention officer. The girlfriend was caught with $172.32 worth of merchandise as well as drug paraphernalia.
“I don’t like that; I don’t like what they did,” said Hammer. “I just hope they got their life straightened out and they start doing better.”
In an interview with police, the suspect, who was identified by Milwaukee news station WISN as Christopher Simpson, admitted to selecting 10 to 15 video games worth $272.14 and using a second jacket to try to conceal them. He faces a misdemeanor theft charge.
Hammer says he “feels good” about taking action.
“My son is proud of me,” he told WISN. “He calls me his hero now.”
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