LG
12-11-2013, 08:55 PM
Gawker.com and numerous media outlets are running a story on Joe Cantrell, an Arizona-based retired professional wrestler, being banned for life from Walmart.
Cantrell, who wrestled for eight years and retired due to injury, often sifts through circulars to find the biggest discounts before heading to the big-box store. According to Walmart.com, they match the lowest advertised price on identical products, but when Cantrell tried doing so last week at a Walmart in San Tan Valley, Arizona, he was placed in handcuffs. After a store employee told him it wasn't allowed, he complained to management.
"When I left, he turned around and called the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and said he felt intimidated and threatened. I was upset but never once did I say anything to the gentleman," Cantrell said of the incident.
Cantrell said when he returned to Walmart four days later, three officers handcuffed him, gave him a court summons and a notice banning him from any Walmart in the world for life.
"I felt shamed. I felt like I was the bad guy. And I know I'm not a bad guy," said Cantrell.
The police department apparently agreed as they eventually let Cantrell go. However, he's facing charges of threatening, intimidation and disorderly conduct, and is still banned from Walmart for life.
Walmart released the following statement to ABC15.com on Tuesday concerning the ordeal: "The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority, and we find threats of violence unacceptable. This customer threatened our associate with bodily harm. Out of abundance of caution, local law enforcement was contacted. Due to continuous threats of violence, the customer is no longer welcome at the store."
Cantrell, who wrestled for eight years and retired due to injury, often sifts through circulars to find the biggest discounts before heading to the big-box store. According to Walmart.com, they match the lowest advertised price on identical products, but when Cantrell tried doing so last week at a Walmart in San Tan Valley, Arizona, he was placed in handcuffs. After a store employee told him it wasn't allowed, he complained to management.
"When I left, he turned around and called the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and said he felt intimidated and threatened. I was upset but never once did I say anything to the gentleman," Cantrell said of the incident.
Cantrell said when he returned to Walmart four days later, three officers handcuffed him, gave him a court summons and a notice banning him from any Walmart in the world for life.
"I felt shamed. I felt like I was the bad guy. And I know I'm not a bad guy," said Cantrell.
The police department apparently agreed as they eventually let Cantrell go. However, he's facing charges of threatening, intimidation and disorderly conduct, and is still banned from Walmart for life.
Walmart released the following statement to ABC15.com on Tuesday concerning the ordeal: "The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority, and we find threats of violence unacceptable. This customer threatened our associate with bodily harm. Out of abundance of caution, local law enforcement was contacted. Due to continuous threats of violence, the customer is no longer welcome at the store."