Parents, Let me tell you what happened to us at a local wal-mart, and nothing wa

United States
January 24, 2007 10:14am CST
A month ago, My husband and I went to wal-mart with our three kids. While I was off shopping with my daughter, My husband called me frantically on my cell phone," I am by the restrooms, get here now!" Of course i freaked out, ran there only to find my husband almost in tears, really ticked-off, and ready to kill someone. When my son started explaining...He needed to go to the restroom and since my husband had stayed with the baby, he decided to wait outside at the door. My husband says that not even two minutes later, my son came out with a scared look in his face. There was a man in the restroom who had asked my son to go in a stall with him. My son said "No" and ran out. Out of fear, he told my husband what happened and well, just imagine, My husband wanted to literally kill him. Another man called for a manager and security, but by the time they showed up the alleged person was gone. My husband was not able to get to hold him. This person ran. The scary part, the manager wouldn't even have him looked for, saying," Well, he's gone now. Theres no reason to persue this." She didn't want to get the police involved. Did we do wrong by not calling the police? What if this man is still out trying to harm other boys? If my husband would have gotten his hands on him he would have caused serious harm, should I be grateful he never got to him? Give me your advice.
22 people like this
78 responses
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
24 Jan 07
First off let me start by saying thank goodness that you both have taught your child what to do if he encounters stranger danger. Run for help! Thankfully your son wasn't hurt. I think for sure the police should have been called- there is a sick man out there. I also think the manager should have done a sort of code Adam- had your son describe him and then lock down the store so that he could be looked for. Hopefully if he was found he could have been questioned. I must admit had it been me and my daughter -- I would have went in and stopped him from leaving-- Not smart with a baby but I would have been so angry and scared! Again thank goodness your little one is untouched and fine!
• United States
24 Jan 07
I need to look into the "code Adam" I am not familiar with it. Thanks for responding. I think my husband had to have had to think it through, because he had both my son 8 yrs old and the baby. Maybe if he wouldn't have had the baby things would have been different.
4 people like this
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Well, yes be grateful that your hubby didn't find him, it would have been worse for your son to have his daddy go to jail or something because he beat some guy up in walmart (although the guy def. deserved it...your hubby would have prob. at least been taken to jail and there would be some kind of hearing). It stinks that nothing was done on managements part, and yes, I do believe you should have called the cops, but it's prob. too late now.. (maybe I don't know.. maybe you can still report it at least?) There might even have been some camera's at a register that could have caught the guys face...or maybe your son could describe the man to a sketch artist? you never know.. it never hurts to try. I'm so thankful your son got away and knew what to say! Thank GOd!
5 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
Yes, i truly praise God that he got away. This has been an experience that he will never forget. I am just glad that he did say no and ran out. I am glad that he has listened to us and school officials when we teach him about talking to strangers. Thanks for responding. P.S. and yes i am also glad my husband never got ahold of his guy.
4 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Rest assured, he's out there victimizing others. The manager was wrong. In a way, I guess you can be happy your husband didn't grab him, in this insane world he'd likely be the one in trouble!! Actually, I don't know as grabbing him and holding him for authorities would even accomplish anything. Why these days, people who graphically rape children, even for years, are being let off (by some insane judges) with probation/treatment (for the sake of the offender - what about, for the sake of children, to be safe?? And to not be scarred for life!) So if this guy were to be caught before the act, I don't hold out a lot of hope for his being put away for the safety of children.
• United States
24 Jan 07
Absolutely NOT you did not do the wrong thing, you did the right thing, I would complain to the highest authority in Wal-Mart to get this resolved and have their employees retrained to handle this sort of situation, just goes to show you how bad the employees are that are hired there.
4 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
I really don't know what kind of ppl get employed there, but they should have at least tried to look for him.
4 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
After the "Sorry excuse for a manager" refused to get the police involved, I probably would have called them myself. I know how horrible that must have been, but now all you can do is be thankful that nothing worse happened.
4 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
We are VERY THANKFUL nothing else happend! I never thought at that moment to call myself, like i mentioned a sec ago to someone else, at that moment I didn't remember my cell phone was in my pocket.
4 people like this
@Kaldonya (277)
• United States
24 Jan 07
That is so scary! It's a shame that your son had that experience. It's probably a good thing that your husband did not get that man. It wouldn't have helped matters in anyway for your husband to be arrested for injuring someone, as much as they deserved it. I think it was wrong that the manager so easily dismissed it. Something like that should never be dismissed.
4 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
I don't think it should have been ignored that way either. Thanks for responding.
3 people like this
• Canada
25 Jan 07
Scary this type of thing is happening just abou evry day latley. I think you should have called the police myself, only cause now that man is out there and probrbly trying again to assult another boy and probably succeding cause the boy wasn`t near his parents for protection. Then I wonder if your husband did get him what concequences would he be facing. Tjis is one scary place to live. I hate to say I am so relieved your son was taught what to do in this type of situation . You have done a great job teaching him about this type of person. GOOD LUCK
• United States
29 Jan 07
Thank You.
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
24 Jan 07
The whole "ideal" at walmart is to never stir up trouble of any kind, and they suck! They're not even human anymore, you need to be the one to defend you there, and yes the police should have been called by you if not walmart,who SHOULD have.They are willing to let anyone take the fall for them, even a little boy.Thank God your son was ok!!
3 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
I agree and I see it now. We should have called the police. I guess at the moment I was scared for my son, he was really freaked out! and i was afraid my husband was going to do something he shouldn't have. It just never crossed my mind that my cell phone was in my pocket. sounds stupid~now.
3 people like this
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
25 Jan 07
You both had cell phone's with or with out the managers assistance I would have at least made a police report. which was completely with in your rights. Wal-Mart has video that the police could have looked at and possibly your son or your husband could have looked at and identified the man. At least something would have been done. maybe not to your or your husbands satisfactions but there would be at least a police report. and then maybe something would have shown on local TV to possibly identify the suspect. if he was caught on tape
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jan 07
Oh my goodness. How terrifiying!!! I would have reported it to the police no matter what the store person thought. I then would have reported the store manger to a higher up in the company that they tried to dismiss this. Shame on them. I am SO glad your son was ok and had the sense to run.
2 people like this
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Here here. the manager should have started the call to the police and have possible video's ready for them for a possible identification. and the corporate head coders would know about it also.
• United States
25 Jan 07
I think that the guy is lucky that your husband never got to him because if I was him I would have done the same thing. I am curious though why no other adult male did not go into the restroom to see if the guy was still in there and try to hold him. I think the police should have been called to at least take a report if nothing else. The manager was wrong not to call the police. I would have called the police myself and make a report.
• United States
29 Jan 07
You know, i've never asked my son or husband if anyone else tried helping. By the time i got there, noone was in the restroom.
24 Jan 07
Thank God your son is alright, thank God your husband did not get hold of the man, your poor husband could be doing jail time. Its not to late to contact the police and in England we have a Crimestoppers number, go see if they have one in your country. Its anonymous, so you could just do it anonymously and explain why you do not want to make it public. I know what the police will say "why didn't you call us right away?" well bully for them, they where not on the recieving end and they have not had to deal with the shock and the game "What If" or worse "Why didn't I" or "Why did I allow this to happen to my child" So first off you have done nothing wrong, you don't think your child is at risk going into the public rest room, you think they're safe. Daddy was just out side, so don't blame your self for this okay. Secondly good job! on teaching your children about their space and safe space and right and wrong and how to deal with strangers. Thirdly - contact the police or write a letter to Wal Mart explaining your concerns, if its in writing they will HAVE To ACT. Good luck.
• United States
26 Jan 07
Thank you. We already have someone looking into it. And letters will be written.
• United States
25 Jan 07
I don't understand why they didn't want you to call the police. It happened inside their store and they should do what is good for their customers. What if the guy comes back again and do those things to other people or customers? Well, we never shop at Walmart! Dear hubby doesn't like to shop there for some personal reasons!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 07
I just found out that this is not the first incident where they would not call the police. I don't know what's going on, but we are looking into it.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I am a Mom and I would have gone in the restroom after that man. You know I have a camera and my cell phone and I always carry a digi-cam with me, I would have taken pictures of him and called the police. I can't believe that no one would have helped your husband by blocking the door so the man could not leave. I would not have left the store without calling the police. Wally-world has security cameras all over. I am sure they would have had video of him. As for causing serious harm, if he had and he was tried by his peers- other parents; do you think they would have found him guilty of anything. I would not have- he was temporarily insane due to what could have happened to his son. In fact, go to the police andd file a report, if everyone lets it go, nothing will ever be done. Even if nothing happened to your son, a report on file, if followed by another one could show a pattern and result in eduction or increased awareness. Next time tell your hubby to go in with your son.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jan 07
Thank you for your response. It is already being looked into.
• United States
25 Jan 07
the fastest way to saolve any prob with walmart is to call the headquarters , I did this when my son found a syringe in the craft section and they didnt do anything about it and the manager was all like , geesh lady we have 5000 peopl come thru this store every day what do ya want me to do about it , I told them the good thing was that my son was 9 at the time and he was smart enough to tell me about it and they were lucky my 2 yr old didnt find it firts cause if that would ahve been the case I would OWN that store by now , but yea ya get my drift ;) the only other thing ya can do is make sure that you let everyone that you talk to that your son was almost molested at wlmart and the local manger didnt care , pwere of talk goes a long way and it will get back to him both in sales and karma , as far as the police are concerned yeai would call them anyway i would tell them what happened ( and even tell walmart headquarters this too ) that you son is now scared to even go in that store much less anyother public bathroom , he can probly even give a good description of the guy the cops probly have the guy on file as an offender . and yea I agree if i would have got the guy the cops would be doing alot more than talking to my kid about what happened they would be cleaning up a big mess in a body bag ;) what can i say mommy just dont play when it comes to her babies ~M~
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
well this is a serious matter and i think you should have reported this case to the police so they can put more patrols in this shopping center for everyone's security.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jan 07
You should give a description of some kind to the police. You might can even talk to someone over the store about the manager's behavior in the situation. I'm glad your husband didn't get the man,but in a way maybe he should have because now his anger might build. My husband would have done the same thing. I'm very sorry about what happened. I'm glad your son is smart enough to know he can run to his parents. Two of my husband's children and soon to be my adopted children, we found out were molested by their family members on their mother's side. We made out a report. They told us they couldn't do anything considering the fact of not having enough evidence or a witness. We were sick. Now we are going to court against her having them at all so I can adopt and keep them safe. You never know who will touch children. Keep your eyes on them at all times. God Bless.
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
25 Jan 07
The cops should be involved and that manager should be reprimanded. Gotothe cops now. Having his description on file might prevent him from weaseling out if he gets caught going after another child. " It was a missunderstanding " won't fly when they see he's tried it before.
1 person likes this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
If this was me, oh man, i would have called 911 from the cellphone cause the guy in the bathroom would have needed it! These people that do this sort of stuff to children WHAT THE %$#% is wrong with them?! Did someone drop them on their heads when they were small ? did their parents not teach them properly ? is it something chemically wrong with their brains? i think if they are caught once they should have to wear a homing device and be nutered! remove the impulse if that's what causes them to do it. that's the most human thing i can think of, cause if i had it my way i'd be able to push a button and they would all just spontaniously combust.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jan 07
First off I think your husband should have taken the baby in the restroom with him. I have a 15 and 16 year old son and an 8 year old step son also an 11 year old daughter. I would never let my sons go to the restroom alone until they got much older. I took them in with me. After they got older I made them go with each other. I still take my daughter in with me. You never know about people now a days this is a crazy world we live in. I heard of a little boy in Pennsylvania whom got his privates cut off while his mom sat outside the door and waited. She thought he was sick and had someone check on him. They told her what had happend. Your little boy is very brave for running out and telling your husband. Congrats on teaching him not to let strangers talk him into doing things. If my fiance' had got his hands on that man he would have done what your husband was going to do. Also Walmart should have done something about it there is no since in the way they behaved.