My question involves criminal law for the state of: Georgia
Hi.
I went to a retail store to return a few items, but decided to do a little shopping before proceeding to the register. When I approached the register I advised that I had a receipt for a couple of the items but the other items I did not have one. The cashier returned the first two items and then told me that they could not return the other items without a receipt as it was not coming up in the system. I told them if they weren't going to return those items then i will not purchase the other items and to please put those items back in a bag, which i took and proceeded to exit. Upon exit (a few people were around) the LP guy approached me and advised they had me on tape stealing. My response was excuse me -- no you don't! I cooperated fully when he asked me to remove the items out of my bag and told me to give it to him. Of course I did not give it to him, which he then asked me if I would go to the back with him (a little room in the back of the store), which again, i cooperated fully. He asked me to remove the items again out my bag, which i did and advised all he's trying to do is retrieve the items that he has me on tape stealing. I told him to show me the tape few times (which he did not) then i asked him to call the police a few times (which he did not). I then called a detective friend who asked me if i was being detained or handcuff, to which i said no, he said you have two options, you can leave if your not being charged or you can wait until the police get there (to which i told him that i asked the LP guy to call the police a few times which he did not). So after the LP guy told me i was not being charged, i told him i was leaving. he followed me outside took my tag # and i left.
On my drive home i was so pissed off that i called another friend who told me to call the police and file a report, which i did. I was at home at the time (less than 5 miles from the store) and the police told me that since the incident did not happen at my home i would need to go back to the retail store, call the police, and file a report there, which i did. Upon the police arrival, i found out that the LP guy called the police and filed a report on me. I said OK what is the report # and i'll call a lawyer on MON. They then asked me if i had the pants in questions, which i did (it was still in my purse), they asked me if i had the receipt to the pants and i said I do not have both but i looked in my receipt pouch and found 1. They placed me in handcuffs and took me back to the same back room i was in earlier with the LP guy. I asked if I was being arrested and initially the cop said yes, then he came back and said no your not being arrested but we are detaining you until the retail store LP guy advised if they were filing charges or not. At the end of the day the LP guy made a copy of the receipt and said he will not be filing charges at this time and he will leave it up to his manager on Monday. The police then released me out of handcuffs and gave me the report # that i asked for initially.
I am deeply hurt as I shop at that retail store a minimum of 2 times per week and spend a ridiculous amount of money there weekly. I was embarrassed and humiliated beyond belief not once but 2 X for something i did not do!
I want them to pay for this. I feel that if they could easily do that to me they will do it to someone else unless it's stopped now! This has probably happened in the past, but no one has had enough strength to stop it! Do I have a good case here or am i wasting my time.
Thanks in advance!

