Cops: Woman arrested for punching Walmart greeter on Christmas Eve

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Credit: iStockphoto)

(CBS/WMAZ) BATAVIA, N.Y. - A New York woman accused of punching a Walmart greeter who asked to see her receipts as she left the store on Christmas Eve, ended up spending the holiday behind bars.

According to CBS affiliate WMAZ, Jacquetta Simmons, 26, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, says State Police Trooper Tracy Patterson. Simmons faces the second count because the victim, 70-year-old Grace Suozzi, is over 65.

Patterson says Simmons allegedly punched Suozzi after the employee asked Simmons to show receipts for items the customer was carrying in store bags, reports WMAZ. After hitting Suozzi and knocking her over, Simmons ran out of the store. However, Walmart employees and customers surrounded her and prevented her from leaving the scene until police arrived.

Suozzi suffered fractures to the left side of her face and significant swelling, Patterson says.

On Sunday, Simmons was reportedly still being held in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Patterson said Simmons had receipts for everything in her bags, WMAZ reports.

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by angelofurnightmare December 29, 2011 9:28 PM EST: You have to be a real a$$ to punch a 70 yr old woman who is trying to make ends meet and had to work on Christmas Eve...I have on occassion felt the need to punch someone (yes even an old someone) but like most of the general public resist the urge...grow up lady...violence is not the answer...now lets see her try it on a 30 yr old clerk...she is obviously a coward and a waste of space; Reply to this comment


by guyfrompa46 December 27, 2011 3:20 PM EST: Funny, I have been asked to show my receipt by a black man and I am white. Never once thought to slug him.. Guys doinfg his job. This woman is scum.; Reply to this comment


by guyfrompa46 December 27, 2011 3:15 PM EST: With a name like Jacquetta do you expect anything less?; Reply to this comment


by smackermack December 27, 2011 2:52 PM EST: To foo - It was Christmas Eve.; Reply to this comment

by HCallahan123 December 27, 2011 2:43 PM EST

Be advissed that U S Constitution prohibits Unreasonable search and seizure in a free country. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." If a Walmart greeter attempts to detain you,you can legally ignore them. If they wish they can summon police who can legaly inspect your bags if they have resonable cause to suspect you of theft.

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by thatchmo62 December 28, 2011 1:49 PM EST: The Constituion only says what government can't do. It doesn't apply to Walmart unless there's a law stating Walmart or any retailer can't check receipts to protect itself from theft.


by wlhoppers December 29, 2011 12:17 PM EST: Going a little overboard here, aren't you?

Why don't you quote laws about innocent people being assaulted?


by foo8259 December 27, 2011 2:14 PM EST: Most of the shopping violence should be winding down now it's "Tame Tuesday"; Reply to this comment

by oldabner December 27, 2011 1:31 PM EST

Wal-Mart hires the elderly only because they work cheap - even those fat slob security guards make more money.

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by wlhoppers December 29, 2011 12:17 PM EST: What's that got to do with an assault charge?


by debbie1120 December 29, 2011 1:40 PM EST: exactly, that is what i was thinking wlhoppers

by GollyRojer December 27, 2011 11:42 AM EST

The receipt checking serves a valid, useful purpose, as was brought home to me this season. In my cart along with several other items was a child's bicycle for my granddaughter. At checkout I didn't take it out because of its size; I rolled the cart around to where the checker could use his handheld scanner on it. Busy with sacking up my purchases, I didn't pay attention to whether he scanned the bicycle. He did not. The receipt checker at the door caught the omission, so we went through the line again to pay for it [this time the express line -- one item :)]. As we left, I thanked her for catching it, as I wouldn't want to be a thief, even inadvertently.

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by wlhoppers December 29, 2011 12:18 PM EST: Good for you - wish everyone was as honest


by petesis December 27, 2011 9:49 AM EST: It is a foolish policy to have a 70 year old woman interracting with the general public in such a potentially hazardous manner. There is certainly no excuse for assaulting her. But why put her in that position? I have had them go through my bag and at the time, I thought the greeter chose me because I was a friendly looking person who would comply. She was obviously a bit unnerved at the thought of approaching sometimes scary looking individuals, so she chose me. But as she looked through my things, I thought she was a bit confused actually. And who wouldn't be? What can you really tell when someone has a cart of 10 or 20 plastic bags and a lengthy receipt? It is a bad policy and I predict Wal Mart will be changing it soon. It is a job for a security professional. I note alot of people are using it as an excuse to exercise their racism. Seems like, for them, it is almost a happy occasion nowadays, when they get to vent like that. If this was a racially motivated attack, all the people on here crowing about it, are just as much a part of the problem. The other side of a two headed coin. Disgrazia.; Reply to this comment


by Hedi14020 December 27, 2011 8:18 AM EST: Simmons made the 40k bond on Sunday and is free. I was in the store when it happened. My family love Grace. She always brings a smile to your face when you enter the store.; Reply to this comment