A former Walmart employee claims he was dismissed from his position after getting stabbed while trying to stop a shoplifter.
On August 11, John Zalesky, from Aurora, Colorado, was working at the supermarket in Centennial when a woman walked in and allegedly stole several items from the store, The New York Post reports.
According to the outlet, Zalesky confronted the unnamed shoplifter and asked to see a receipt for the items in her bag. However, she bolted and the employee subsequently followed her outside to her car.
“She wasn’t even denying it, she just took off,” he told the publication. “And I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve had enough of this c**p. I’m done with these people stealing, this one’s going to end it.’ So I actually chased her out to the car she was in, which was backed into a handicapped [spot] right outside the front doors.”
Zalesky caught up with the woman, who jumped into the driver’s seat of an old silver Toyota sedan, and noticed that she wasn't alone.
He attempted to retrieve the stolen goods and was then reportedly stabbed with a knife by a male suspect. The man tried to cut Zalesky again but missed, per the publication.
As the assault left a small gash on his left forearm, the employee refused to go to the hospital or receive stitches. “It was probably three-quarters of an inch wide - nothing big...I don’t worry too much about it. I mean, if it was serious, I’d have taken it more [seriously]," he said.
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office shared a post on August 12 about the incident, which read: "Deputies say a male employee confronted a female shoplifter and followed her out to her car attempting to get the stolen items back when he was stabbed in the arm by a male suspect who got out of the vehicle.
"The couple then took off in an early 2000 model silver Toyota sedan with no license plates. Deputies checked the area but could not find the vehicle," they continued. "Both suspects are white and in their 30s. The female has purple hair."
A week after the attack, Zalesky was informed by the store's assistant manager that he was being let go from his position because Walmart has a company policy that bars employees from following shoplifters out of its doors.
“They said, ‘We just don’t have a choice, it comes from corporate,’” Zalesky said. “I was disgusted. Nobody had ever attempted to stop me from what I was doing before — hell, they were glad.
“They didn’t complain because it’s saving the company money and making the store look better because now your losses aren’t bad,” he continued. “They all knew I was real good… at detecting people stealing stuff.”
John has since started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for his rent and bills. As of the time of writing, $1,755 has been raised of the intended $10,000 goal.
He wrote in the description of the campaign: "I don't know how I am going to pay my rent and bills cause not many places want to hire a 68-year-old man. I am seeking your help until I can find some more income again and want to thank everyone."
The ex-Walmart worker opened up about his predicament, and said that he is upset that he lost the job that allowed him to work with "some fantastic people".
"I looked to work there for 10 years, then hopefully retire and enjoy life. But you’re trying to do the right thing, and you get slapped for it. That’s what’s most perturbing about it," he shared. "I was disappointed that with all the [things] I’ve done, this is how Walmart thanks you.
"You save them thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars of merchandise being stolen. And you have one thing, with a little bitty stab wound, and you fire the guy for it?" he added.
Authorities have reported that suspects responsible for the shoplifting and stabbing are "white and in their 30s," adding that the woman has "purple hair".
Walmart has yet to comment publicly.
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