Walmart Tussle Leads to Charges of Racism

Black Customer Arrested for Dispute after She Switched Checkout Lines; Says Prosecution is Racially Motivated

(AP)  Nearly three years after Heather Ellis switched checkout lines at a southeast Missouri store and touched off what she calls a racially charged dispute with white customers and authorities, the young black schoolteacher faces a trial that could send her to prison for 15 years.

Witnesses have told authorities that Ellis cut in front of waiting customers at the Walmart in Kennett, Missouri, on Jan. 6, 2007, shoved merchandise already placed on a conveyor belt out of the way, and became belligerent when confronted, according to court filings.

Ellis maintains she was merely joining her cousin, whose checkout line was moving more quickly. She claimed in a written complaint to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that she was then pushed by a white customer, hassled by store employees, called racial slurs and physically mistreated by Kennett police officers.

Police say in court documents that Ellis refused requests to calm down and leave the property, allegedly kicking one's shin and splitting another's lip while resisting arrest. Her trial on charges of assaulting police officers, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace begins Wednesday in Dunklin County Circuit Court.

The Syracuse, New York-based Your Black World Coalition is organizing a Monday rally in Kennett.

A college student in New Orleans at the time of her arrest, the 24-year-old Ellis now teaches in Louisiana, where she is engaged to a state trooper. She has said she feels trapped by "small-town politics" in Kennett, where her family lives.

"What a shame the system can destroy a young person's future like this because of bad cops," Ellis wrote to the NAACP in April.

The group subsequently held a rally in Kennett. Before the June 13 event began, police officers found threatening letters the size of business cards scattered along the route that said the Ku Klux Klan had paid a visit and "the next visit will not be social."

Dunklin County Prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff said the cards were removed and the source investigated but never discovered. He said he doubts the cards actually were from the KKK; he knows of no KKK presence in the area. A call to the KKK headquarters was not answered.

As for Ellis' allegations of mistreatment by law enforcement, Sokoloff said he's "seen absolutely no evidence of any kind, apart from her statements, that those things occurred." Kennett Police Chief Barry Tate did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Kennett is a town of roughly 11,000 residents, about 1,500 of them black. The police department also is predominantly white, but has actively worked to recruit more women and minorities, said longtime resident Charles B. Brown, who served as mayor from 1991 to 2003.

"We're a small country town with greater problems than racism. Our problems are economic," he said, explaining that Kennett needs more jobs.

Some community leaders fear the "big paint roller" being used by observers of Ellis' case has resulted in unfair portrayals of the town as prejudiced.

"They're searching their hearts and minds, and that's just not us," he said.

Sokoloff said he would have filed the same charges regardless of the races of those involved. Last week, he took himself off the case, telling the Southeast Missourian newspaper he hoped it would refocus attention on the facts. A special prosecutor from Cape Girardeau County was appointed.

Ellis and her lawyers, Scott Rosenblum and T.J. Hunsaker in St. Louis, declined to comment on the specifics of the case. She has previously rejected plea deals.

"Why would you plea bargain if you're innocent?" said Ellis' father, the Rev. Nathaniel Ellis of Kennett.

"This is not a matter of justice," he said. "It's a vendetta."

Ellis' written account to the NAACP describes she and her cousin getting into separate checkout lanes before Ellis switched into the faster-moving line. The woman behind them had placed items on the conveyor belt, and Ellis alleged the woman pushed her when she tried to put her own items down.

Witnesses instead told police that Ellis shoved the woman's merchandise back, according to court filings.

Ellis wrote that a security officer and manager were called over and that although Ellis said she wanted to pay, the manager yelled at her to leave the store. Police were called and arrived.

Officers eventually followed her to the parking lot, she said, using racial slurs and telling her to go back to the ghetto. As her aunt and uncle drove into the parking lot, Ellis said, the officers "jumped" on her even though she said she was not resisting.

Officer A.W. Fisher wrote in a probable cause statement that Ellis was given "every opportunity" to comply with officers and leave the property. He said she used an expletive in telling him she would beat him if he put his hands on her.

Fisher said he then told Ellis she was under arrest, but she would not stop fighting while being handcuffed.

Following her arrest, Ellis alleged, she was thrown against doors on the way into jail and an officer later twisted her shirt with his knuckle to choke her while she was in custody.

"Incidents involving our customers are unfortunate and we take them seriously," Walmart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said in a statement earlier this month. "In this matter, there was a disturbance and law enforcement was contacted, in accordance with our normal procedures. The police then determined how to proceed."

[erasmus111]

The fact that they are all racists isn't a surprise to me.

The one thing you never do is cut in front of someone. I don't care whether it's your cousin or your sister that's in the front of the line. That is a NO-NO! And knowing how some women are, it's a wonder she didn't get her throat slit. : )

[koyt2]

This lady sounds like an obnoxious b _ _ _ h, who is crying to the NAACP after her littly fit and is giving African Americans a bad name.

[toldyouso21]

WEll. There should be video. And then there is the idea that maybe, just maybe, it is not a good idea to assume because one's cousin, grandfather, best friend or other relative is in a line and you are in another, that it is okay to "jump lines" if they were together and paying together, that is one thing, but if they were separately buying groceries or merchandise, you do not net a free place in line just because you are related to or know someone in the other line. If it came down to racial slurs, shoving objects back, etc--I'd say this was a case of gross inconsideration by Ellis, that was followed by a reaction from the person she jumped in front of that was then followed by a reaction from the store to refuse the situation, that was then followed by police officers responding.

But it all started with Ellis presuming that because her cousin or friend was in another line, that she, as a relative or knowing that friend, had a right to get in front of all other people and have her groceries checked out. That is not how it is supposed to work. YOu change lines, you should wait in line like everyone else--UNLESS the cousin was not only paying for her own groceries but also for Ellis's. If Ellis' groceries were a separate order, then she should have gone to the back of the next line.

We do not do nepotism or favoritism by dint of relations in situations like this. She cut, the other customer was rightfully upset--as for who shoved groceries or people first--that is another issue.

If I were a judge, I'd give her 3 years with most time suspended but with a requirement of 2000 hours of community service, part of which would be as a bagger at a store. I would also recommend anger management classes and that she pay the legal bills of the officers or state. As for race, if you act ignorant, you will be called names--it is rather audacious for anyone to presume that just because the people involved are black and white, that there is a racial issue and it is even more audacious that a person would think that just because their relative is in a line, that place in line automatically translates into their right to cut and reap the benefits of that place in line also.

[ekucrew]

Show the videotape of the checkout lane in court. It is commonly used when a stolen credit card is used at WalMart. The tale of the tape will prove who pushed, instigated the meleee.

If teacher is indicted and found guilty, then her punishment should be she is forced to try and cut line to get be first in line at the front door at 5AM any WalMart on this year's Black Friday sale.

[pickaguitar1]

Down with walfart!

[skepticalJM]

As a casual reader, I would think that the stores security cameras can show more evidence for one side or another (they're used often enough to try to hurt people through out of context innuendo, maybe they can clear up something in this case).

This is what happens when people think of themselves as different groups instead of just plain people. What happened to just being Americans?
We are so splintered into different groups we jump on "group protection" at the hint of trouble. Do away with group preference, and lets start ending the economic motivations that have created all of this through preference and disparity, or we'll always be at each others throats like a bunch of young hooligans.

[hull7777]

It seems that whenever a minority has a problem, it becomes racially motivate. Frankly,I am tired of it.

[Positively]

Rev. Nathaniel Ellis of Kennett is her father, is he not teaching his own daughter moral behavior? I could bet that the surmons in the church are no longer "turn the other cheek" and forgive others. No, he is adding fuel to her already complicated life. Was the cousin going to PAY for her items? I did not read any commments from her. Her only hope in this situation is to blame everyone else and see if that gets her off the charges. How embarrassing to have an educated daughter to lose her integrity over waiting a few more minutes to pay for her purchases.

[endurorob_5]

"For oen thing, aside from the Native Americans (whom whites tried to enslave first), we are the only class of Americans in this country that were brought over here because of your laziness, greed and lust."
by ABM_21 November 16, 2009 10:58 AM EST



You know, I recently watched a Glenn Beck show where he had a large in studio audience made up totally of blacks. He would bring 3 up on stage at a time and talk and listen to their comments. One woman while on stage was talking about something and she made the comment "When are ancestors were taken from their homes in Africa," She immediately followed that comment with "and thank God for that." Which implied that they are better off here than if they were in Africa.

[Mustache_Outlaw]

Um, correct me if I am wrong here. But didn't her ancestors sell their own brothers and sisters into slavery in the first place ? And interesting she said, Thank God For That....

[jennifer-marie]

"For oen thing, aside from the Native Americans (whom whites tried to enslave first), we are the only class of Americans in this country that were brought over here because of your laziness, greed and lust."
by ABM_21 November 16, 2009 10:58 AM EST

--------------

Um ... Okay? My father's family came to the United States following WWI - in which my great-grandfather (born and raised in Blegium) fought for the U.S. Army and was granted citizenship after the war for his service. My mother's family were Native Americans from the hills of West Virginia. Becareful what kind of "you's" you throw around at "white" people because of anger and bitterness at the past.

NONE of my ancestors enslaved your ancestors, so don't direct your hate at me.

This woman was belligerent and publicly accosted people in a Wal*Mart -- where they have hundreds of closed-circuit cameras that probably caught all of what went on in both the store and parking lot. She would not have been arrested and charged with a crime were there not evidence that SHE was the one creating a disturbance. For her to cry racism after the fact because she acted outrageously is exactly why ignorance continues to exist for some people.

And all those making comments about people "going back to Africa": YOU'RE the exact reason so many people keep saying that all "white" people are racist.

ALL of you need to get over yourselves and stop licking your imaginary wounds. It's time for everyone to grow up.

[patronejohn]

You know if I acted like this at my local WalMart, I would expect (and deserve) the same treatment. I would only pray the cops get there before the customers get hold of me. So what would I say? It was because I was Italian? Her story is BS and obviously she needs professional help. I just don't buy it. If she thinks it's bad there, try speeding through Los Angeles County and get pulled over by LAPD.

[bubbadubba]

I have never seen white people do such a thing. (sarcasm)
And great stuff saying the President of the United States should comment on this.
HA HA HA HA HA HEE HEE HEE HA HA HA HA HA

[endurorob_5]

Noone on here said white people have never done anything like this. The complaint it she is trying to turn her ignorant behavior into racism on the part of others. And the Obama comment was humor.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

i have seen this all too often personally,
and it is usally by people who are legends in their own minds.

[mswolfestock]

Good point U_S_ --- I have found that the majority of those Legends In Their Own Minds shop at Wal Mart . . . . . .

I have not shopped in my local Wal-Mart for almost ten years because of this. I don't know what it is about Wal-Mart but it seems to bring out the worst in all of the shoppers. It has nothing to do with race and everything to do with having no manners or class. Remember, a greeter DIED at Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving because people turned into animals, all to save a couple of bucks on shoddy, cruddy merchandise from China.

[bobnjersey]

[Witnesses have told authorities that Ellis cut in front of waiting customers at the Walmart in Kennett, Missouri, on Jan. 6, 2007, shoved merchandise already placed on a conveyor belt out of the way, and became belligerent when confronted, according to court filings. Ellis maintains she was merely joining her cousin, whose checkout line was moving more quickly.]

just 'joining' your cousin ... whose line was moving more quickly? that's fine if your cousin was at the end of the line ... but it's blatantly cutting in the line if she wasn't.

good for all those in the store for 'getting in her way'. this is the only thing that stops ignorant people like this.

15 years for cutting in a store line seems a bit over the top ... but lets start there and see if it reduces the arrogance some seem to have when it's 'all about them'.

[endurorob_5]

She is also accused of kicking an officer in the shin and splitting the lip of another. The majority of the 15 years would be for assaulting officers of the law.

[solosuzie]

people like her give blacks a bad name...

[uisignorant]

I so agree!

[Sloughfoot]

Playing the race card again and again and again and again ........

[DoubleHappiness88]

Jail will teach Heather Ellis to wait her turn in line.

[observer2020]

This is stupid. Being that she obviously had a hissy-fit, the cops reacted properly--regardless of race or anything else. If you do not know how to act in public, go shopping during "off hours" when most of the public are not in the store and you can be just as childish as you want to. She wanted to cut in line because she didn't want to wait like every other paying customer--regardless of race or religion or anything else...and it sounds like SHE was abusive to other customers by 'shoving' their purchases back on the belt. Sorry, but I'd get angry too--someone acting like that and touching my purchases regardless of what they were. Now that she has nothing but a seriously nasty attitude to lean on, she is playing the race card. I am very sorry for other blacks (or any other breathing/red-blooded human beings) that know how to act in public have to listen to her racial comments. Drop that already. She deserves jail time to sort out her anger issues. The school should fire her--I certainly would not want anybody like that teaching my children to act like that! She needs to learn patience...I could care less what race she is--she needs to grow up!

[mswolfestock]

I agree. This woman was not raised right, and that has nothing to do with race. Most of us were raised to respect others and their property, and to wait patiently for our turn. I would REALLY have a problem with ANYBODY who acted so rudely towards me in a check-out line. This woman needs to do some time in jail to learn basic manners like most other people learned in grade school. That is on top of the time she should have to serve for resisting arrest and hurting the police officers.

[ABM_21]

by Iamthemango November 16, 2009 10:34 AM EST
This woman lives in a predominantly white hick-town in *gasp* Missouri with an all white police force. Is she kidding?

She acted like a blasted fool in a local Walmart and got taken down for it. That's what happens when you stand out and you act out. She should take her lumps and be done with it.

Tired of blacks acting like a special class just because of their past enslavement (get over it!) and now because our President is black.

Stop it. Enough already.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And, the author of this racially charged garbage would scream to high Heaven if I called his or her statement what is is: RACISM! You're 'tired of acting like a special class just because of their past enslavement (get over it!) '? For oen thing, aside from the Native Americans (whom whites tried to enslave first), we are the only class of Americans in this country that were brought over here because of your laziness, greed and lust. I think that does make us a 'special class'. Add to that the fact that, in most cases, police departments across this nation specialize in harassing blacks all under the guise of 'preserving the peace'---usually, with the thanks and blessing of an apathetic white public---you have a recipe for racism and bigotry.
We will 'get over it' when this country pays REPARATIONS for its years of racial bigotry and suppression. That this nation elected a black man to be president is of no consequence. It only means that the people who voted for him are either black or not racist, not the entire country. Stop trying to take credit for something you yourself probably did not do. It also means that the previous 'president' (if you can call him that with a straight face) did such a **** poor job the nation would have elected a Martian if he would have been running for the office.

[endurorob_5]

It is people like you, screeming racism where it doesn't exist and feeling entitled because someone of the same ethinicity as you suffered in the past that perpetuate the racial tention in this coutry. Get off the front porch, put down the cigarettes, get a job, and get in touch with reality.

[Brokennews]

REPARATIONS??

So what are you looking for?
Cash?
Land?
Escalade?
A platter of Rice Crispy treats?
Unfettered right to cut in front of others?
What would it take for you to not feel that everybody owes you something?

[uisignorant]

Go back to Africa, if you do not like it here.
You seem to forget it was the Africans selling your @ss to the white man.
I can guarantee you that even the poorest of the Blacks in this country have it better than most of those over there.
You find me one person that has suffered from slavery, and I say pay them. That is NOT you! You are just one of those lazy candy@sses looking for a free handout. NOT FROM ME!
"Go get your f'n shinebox"

[squeakof2006]

No one in this country is the direct victim of slavery, and yet minorities get extra help because they scream "Racism" if they don't. You can have about any school group but a white culture group, because that's racist (this happened a few years ago), you get almost a full ride to college from minority-only scholarships, but the white kids better not complain about how they have to pay for it. Everyone BUT the whites have a special class and protection. Enough already!! I didn't put you in slavery, I shouldn't have to pay for it! You were never a slave, stop complaining about it when you benefit from it!!!

[anti-global3]

"We will 'get over it' when this country pays REPARATIONS for its years of racial bigotry and suppression. That this nation elected a black man to be president is of no consequence. It only means that the people who voted for him are either black or not racist, not the entire country. Stop trying to take credit for something you yourself probably did not do. It also means that the previous 'president' (if you can call him that with a straight face) did such a **** poor job the nation would have elected a Martian if he would have been running for the office."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will never see one dime in reparations. It would not be fair, nobody alive today owned slaves and the majority of us aren't decendents of slave owners either. As a matter of fact all blacks who decended from slaves should have to either pay orperform public service to pay back the Americans who lost their lives fighting to end slavery. What do you think of that?

also i voted for Obama but will not in 2012. He is trying to redistribute wealth and us "whites" with money will never allow that to happen. There are more of us and we vote together in our best interest. We decided to give this guy a chanceand he blew it. There will not be abother black president for at least a 100 years. By then those of us with money will have either hidden it away or will have made states soverignty the law of the land. Then those of us with will relocate to places those without cannot afford.
My point is you will never get your hands on our money.

[lorajeantn]

For oen thing, aside from the Native Americans (whom whites tried to enslave first), we are the only class of Americans in this country that were brought over here because of your laziness, greed and lust. I think that does make us a 'special class'.

My family didn't come to America until the early 1900's. How do we fit into your reasoning? It wasn't OUR "laziness, greed and lust" that was responsible for slaves being brought to America...y'all were here (and free) before WE were. We weren't here during American slavery...does EVERY white person in the world owe you something?

[spotteddawg]

First of all, this issue has nothing to do with race, it was a woman that behaved poorly and got caught. Second, what does slavery have to do with a 24 year old woman acted stupic in a Wal Mart? There is a lot of racism in the United States but it is on along all racial lines, not just whites. Please study history a little more closely. "Whites" did not go to Africa and enslave "Blacks". The "White" traders bought slaves from "Black" villages. These poor people were already slaves and merely sold for profit. No single party can wash their hands of this terrible time in our history but if you can not move past it you are doomed to live in a prison you create for yourself. I would like to see the NAACP come out at least once and say, we are not going to help this person because it was not a racial incident but merely a situation where she acted stupid. Maybe then, everytime an issue comes up people will stop screaming racism. People of all colors commit crimes. Why is it only when they are black does the NAACP jump in to make it worse?

Grow up people and accept everyone is different and that what makes the country great. Learn to behave in society and everyone will benefit!

[Mustache_Outlaw]

Mr Sharpton, I didn't know you read CBS news online, much less commented on her. .. Look, I have never owned a slave or seen a live one, and last I heard, slavery was abolished when Lincoln was president around 1865. So stop saying my generation owes you anything. For one.. It was their own black brothers, fathers and so on who sold their own people into slavery in the first place back then. So it was your ancestors own greed that caused slavery. The so called lazy whites only took advantage of the small price the families put on their own family's heads. Second.. A Black Muslim is President Of The United States. And that's all I have to say about that.. Signed Forrest Gump.

[buzbeech]

And this piece of trash came to Louisiana to teach our children. Oh God save us. She seems to be rather low life to me and to think she is teaching in a state where I pay taxes outrages me. Hope she gets 15 years plus.