Only at Wal-Mart

Crime happens everywhere, even Wal-Mart. It's one of the places we expect to see something weird or strange going on, but never expect anything too outrageous. The following list of crimes all took place at the store known for being the “low-price leader.”

Wal-Mart Employees Kill Suspected Shoplifter

In 2016, three Wal-Mart employees, Nathan Higgings, Crucelis Nunez, and Randall Tomko were arrested, charged with manslaughter after they confronted a man who attempted to steal almost $400 worth of DVDs from the store.

That man, 64-year-old Kenneth Wisham, fell to the floor when confronted by the employees. They detained the man while they waited for police to arrive at the store. The man later died. One of the employees told police the man screamed, “I can’t breathe,” before his body went limp and he stopped moving. The same employee accused another of punching Wishman “several times.”

The employees denied any wrongdoing in the man’s February 2016 death. The three were arrested after an autopsy confirmed that Wisham died by mechanical asphyxiation and had been strangled. He also had 15 broken ribs. His death was ruled a homicide.

In 2020, Nunez accepted a plea deal placing her on probation and the reduced charge of attempted manslaughter. She was sentenced to serve two years on house arrest and three years of probation.

Randall Tomko passed away from a heart attack before his trial began. He was 62-years-old.

The outcome of the case against Higgins is unknown.

Man Tased, Arrested After Riding Purchased Bike in Wal-mart Store

In July 2020, a man purchased a bicycle from his local Wal-Mart for his son. With the receipt in hand, the man decided to give the bike a test ride inside the store. Wal-Mart store manager called police on Stanley Gracius after he began to ride the bike inside the store. About this time, customers began to record him riding the bike on their cellphones.

Gracius was courteous and respectful, telling customers to have a good day. He played music as he drove around on the bike.

When officers arrived, the man was leaving and registering. He told them he paid for the bike and showed them his receipt. This did not stop two cops from wrestling Gracius to the ground and tasing him. Gracius asked the officer why he was being arrested, but cops only continued to tase him.

A few seconds later officers took Gracius outside and forced him into the back of a patrol car. He explained to them he did not know what was going on or why he was being arrested or harassed. The officer responded by tying his feet with a belt.

Responding to the online backlash following the arrest, the Berks County District Attorney said that after an independent review of the incident, it was determined that the Wyomissing Police Department "showed restraint, acted professionally, and did a good job in de-escalating the situation with the defendant."

Police charged the man with three felony charges and five misdemeanors, including disarming a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

Man Masturbates in Front of Young Girl in the Toy Aisle

A Berks County jury found the 38 year old man guilty of resisting arrest, defiant trespass and persistent disorderly conduct after the trial before Judge Patrick T. Barrett. He was sentenced to serve two years probation.

In 2019, 19-year-old Elias Alan-Arturo Flor was arrested after video surveillance at the local Wal-Mart captured the man masturbating in front of a child in the toy aisle. The man walked around the story for several minutes looking for a “victim,” police said.

The girl began to scream, prompting her mother to turn around. She then told her mother what happened.

Flor turned himself in to authorities after photos of him in WalMart committing the act went viral.