My question involves criminal law for the state of: GA
Not me, but for a close family friend. Upstanding citizen, woman in her 60s.
- Was shopping at a fairly nice department store at the mall, made a return at the store and purchased another item.
- On her way out, passed by jewelry dept, looked at an item, asked the price and then returned the item to the woman. At this point she had her car keys/keyholder in her hand which look similar to the jewelry and has different things hanging off
- Gets approached by LP, says she stole a bracelet. She shows her the key and says its just that. They go together and ask the lady at the jewelry counter and she confirms that she received the item
- At this point, they take her back to the room, manager and security come in. She dumps her purse empties everything out and they can't find it. She shows her bag with the receipt for the items she had purchased. They can't find any evidence of anything.
- LP guy goes out, comes back in a few minutes later and sits right next to her (unlike other security and manager who are across the table from her at this point). Sits down right there and miraculously looks down at the floor and finds the bracelet.
They tell her to sign a paper and pay $150 cash and leave and never come back and they won't call the police. She hesitates, says she will do whatever, signs the paper and then at this point the police show up and they say it's too late.
Police come and accuse her of being drunk (she doesn't drink), they tell her to put everything in her car except her wallet.
- take her down to the station
- when she gets to the station, they refuse to let her make a call, tell her that if the bond gets posted she'll be out in a couple hours
- she tells them that she is diabetic and has high blood pressure and needs her meds and insulin shots 3 times a day, she passes out shortly after, they take her to the nurse and say that they will get her medication, but they never do
- put her back in a cell and refuse to give her any water or food
- she finally is allowed to make a call 4 hours after being booked
- bond is posted at night but they don't release her and hold her overnight with no bathroom breaks, no water, and no food
So she's out now, has court date scheduled in a few weeks, but we aren't sure what to do. There are a few questions
1) did she completely screw herself by signing that form at the dept store?
2) is there any way to get a copy of the surveillance video to see if A) she actually did it, or B) if the LP guy happened to go out and grab the bracelet and bring the bracelet back in when he took his little break
3) was the police activity justified at the station, not allowing a phone call for that long, and also withholding medication, food, and water from a person who is ill?
Appreciate any guidance.

