PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Beauty supply stores are big
business, but the last time Candice Colley and Tonya Williams decided to get
some hair for a new style in Portsmouth things went downhill fast.
It all started as they were looking around the store and
Tonya’s daughter picked up a bottle of cream. When they left to price check at
other stores they asked the clerk to hold on to a bundle of hair until they
returned, leaving the cream behind as well. When they got back, they say
they were accused of committing a crime.
“As soon as we went to open the door, the owner and the lady
that helped us was like, ‘come in, come in, right on time,’” Williams said. “So
we were looking at each other like, wait a minute what’s going on? After she
showed us in, she locked the door and was like, ‘alright you stole, y’all
stole.’”
“That was embarrassing,” Colley said. “It was
discrimination. It was just too much. You basically caged me in somewhere so I
can’t get out and you have no proof I took anything.”
After viewing surveillance video that proved they never did
anything wrong and finding the merchandise in question, they say the store
employee apologized. But does that cover the humiliation they say they endured?
Houston couple Deadra Pattum and John Marsden would say
“no.” They submitted to a strip search in a beauty supply store after being
accused of stealing a pair of $3 earrings. They say they were threatened and
forced to remain in the store, too.
“The worst thing is to be accused of something you did not
do,” Williams said. “That’s the worst feeling in the world. It’s embarrassing.
Everyone’s standing there looking like what’s going on in there.”
WAVY.com spoke to the owner of the Portsmouth store off
camera and he disputed whether the door was ever locked. He also said the word
“stealing” was never used, he said his employee just inquired where their
merchandise had been placed.
Tonya and Candice say police told them nothing criminal
actually happened, but that doesn’t mean you have no recourse if you feel
you’ve been profiled. Portsmouth Police told WAVY.com if you believe you have
been wrongfully stopped for theft, ask for police to be called and know that
you don’t have to stay put. If you feel your integrity’s been challenged by a
public accusation, you may want to consider a civil suit.
The Better Business Bureau told WAVY.com you could also
contact the Council of Human Rights in Richmond and make a Public Accommodation
Complaint.
As for stores, each one has a different policy, but many
will instruct employees to ask for merchandise, but if a
customer is resistant to let them go.
