Fine from Safeway for Shoplifting

Incident Marysville, Washington.

I drop my brother for a haircut at about 2:30 pm on July 14, 2007. I walk to Safeway for contact lens solution. Specifically Alcon Opti-Free Replenish solution. I pick up two boxes a 10 oz box and a box of rewetting drops also called Alcon Opti-Free Replenish. I exit the eye care aisle and look at meats and spices. I think about buffalo wings and what spices I need. I go back to look at a package of frozen Tyson brand wings for the ingredients. I see an unknown female tampering with some contact lens solution. I go back to the spices and change my mind. I didn't want Buffalo wings and I also change my mind about the rewetting drops. So instead I buy seasoning and some rib eye steaks. My brother pops into the store and says let's go home. I pay for my items which are Alcon Opti-Free Replenish Solution, McCormick Steak Rub and 3 rib eye steaks. As I exit I am apprehended by two people who look like drug addicts. The unknown female then flashes to me a badge worn around her neck that says security and an unknown man with a crazy spiked mohawk and rocker/skateboarding clothes. Now the female was missing teeth and I suspected that these two individuals were high and trying to assault me. I run back into the store with both chasing me because I thought they were fake. Now the manager comes up and verifies.
I enter the main office and am told to sit down. The female guard enters and accuses me of destroying property. It was the same contact lens solution she was tampering with. Now I am being blamed for opening the package even if my eye doctor clearly stated not to switch solutions. I explain this but she discredits me to tell me that I was carrying two boxes. They did not believe that it was the same brand. I ask to see surveillance. They tell me that only Safeway personnel can go and use it. Now I have no criminal record whatsoever. I am asked for social security and id I comply due to fear and intimidation. I am forced to sign a contract for a 1 year banning. If I did not I would have the police called. I was forced to leave the premises without any evidence of me doing the act. The only back up was word of mouth though I suspect a set up was involved. As I leave I am told that I am not allowed in any store in Washington State. This coming year I will be attending Washington State University. The only grocery store without a drive is Safeway. Now I have been served a letter to pay civil damages. $153. Now I am innocent and will refuse to pay for this. I did not get financial aid and will be paying for tuition in full. What can I do?

If you did no wrong then you should hire an Attorney to fight the Civil Demand however on a sour note the Attorney fees will likely exceed the Civil Demand charges. Contact Safeway corporate offices and explain your situation see if they will remove Civil demand request. You can supeona the video (if any) but again that requires you go to court tofight charges and hire an Attorney

You don't actually need to fight a civil demand - you don't pay it and see if you are sued, and only then would you need to fight the lawsuit - although (if you don't mind incurring the cost) a lawyer may be able to help you negotiate a resolution. Recall that any statements you make to Safeway could be used against you in court.

I have to feel the best option (first) is to contact Store Manager or Corporate Office. Not paying Civil Demand could result in Law Suit the object here is to avoid paying.

What would I say. Just tell exactly what happened. Give my eye doctors number? If I have to pay this will I avoid any court time? I'm getting ready for college. I don't want to pay for this crap. I could use the money to buy books.

Your eye Doctor is not going to be able to prove you did not steal. make the call and go form there. If no police were called there is no court or criminal charges. Your goal at this point is to have Civil Demand removed. Make this call right away as if the time frame to pay Civil demand expires the charges could triple or a law suit could be started

Well I called loss prevention and told them my story and the Civil Demand was lifted. Thanks this really helped. Now I have to call to get the ban lifted.

Get something in writing saying Civil Demand was lifted. Then call Civil Demand law firm or service tell them and give them name of person lifitng request.

Well she told me that she could not put it in writing. She told me to trust her that it was lifted.

Do not trust her. First off who was this person and under what authority did she remove Civil Demand. You need to contact Store manager not Loss Prevention! Tell Store Manager who you spoke with and what she said. Then tell your story and how you would like Civil Demand and ban both lifted. If need be contact corporate next. If Stopre Manager agrees to lift Civil Demand request contact Civil recovery service who wrote you letter and tell them what was said and by who.

Yeah I called the civil recovery service. She told me it was lifted. It was the number from the civil demand letter. Her name was Donna.

Ok then you good

thanks for all the advice!