Video at source.
Posted on 09/22/2006 8:13:45 AM PDT by Cagey
(WCCO) St. Paul Typically the biggest problem in the produce aisle of the supermarket is finding fruit that isn't ripe. But there was a fist fight last week at a St. Paul Rainbow Foods store.
Tameca Griffin of Minneapolis is accused of becoming violent after being asked not to snack on grapes. Police say Griffin hit an off-duty police officer who was working as a security guard.
How many can you eat before it's considered criminal? Most people we asked said one or two is fine but any more than that is stealing.
"I don't even know why I do it. Probably just because I give the baby one, and I'll take one too,” said a woman shopping for groceries in St. Paul, who did not want to give her name.
But it's apparently because Griffin was snacking on unbought grapes that she wound up facing felonies.
The incident started when a female police officer asked Griffin to stop snacking without paying. According to the complaint, Griffin became hostile and pushed her chest against the female officer and screamed.
Griffin punched the cop in the face, fought and injured the cop, according to the court document.
"It's conceivable that there was a concussion, some of her hair was pulled out, and bumps and bruises,” said Tom Walsh, St. Paul Police spokesperson.
One manager at the Rainbow says his store has security, in part, to keep snacking from going overboard. The National Grocers Association says really greedy grazing is rare, and most retailers will tolerate customers who can't resist just a taste or two.
A police spokesperson says he's not sure how many grapes Griffin was eating when the officer confronted her. Griffin faces charges that include fourth degree assault.
Not to mention that unwashed fruit can get you sick...
Video at source.
There is a lesson in here, I just can't seem to find it. Hmmm.
While in the store one day, a Grandpa type was snacking and feeding grapes to his granddaughter. My girls wanted to do the same.
I said in a very loud voice, "Oh no girls, that's stealing! No one minds if you taste the grapes to see if they are sweet but more than one is not allowed."
Gramps was pretty red when he walked away.
After the spinich debacle I'd be leery of "snacking" off the produce pile.
Here's a lesson for people like Tameka and Cynthia:
"Hey STUPID! Never pick a fight with a cop, especially over something insignificant."
Why do I feel like Rev'rund Al will come running to her rescue?
Replies like your previous one will get you the door. Consider this a warning.
My unofficial rule has always been ... try ONE grape from each type that you intend to actually buy ... any more than that would be stealing.
Well, the lesson might be that eating an unwashed fruit in the store isn't a good idea *anyway*...no way I'd eat something just sitting out like that with no telling who's been handling it with their unwashed nasty hands!
Can you imagine some person with a bad case of crotch rot that they've been digging at with their nails all morning coming in the store and picking up that fruit and then putting it down and then someone coming along behind them and eating it!
Or maybe that fruit's been "fertilized" with the waste from someone with a bad case of Shigella.
Yuck.
The first thing I do when I get home with fruit from the store is wash it thoroughly with SOAP and discard the bag it came in. I treat it just like a biohazard till I get it washed.
Greedy Grape Grabbing Griffin Goads Grocery Guard
Replies like your previous one will get you the door. Consider this a warning.
What did he do other than state some facts?
My apologies to n230099. That warning was meant for mmyers.
mmyers, comments like your previous post will get you the door. Consider this a warning.
??? I don't even see any posts from "mmyers", nor any deleted posts. Did I miss something?
The real irony is that Tameca probably has a WIC card and could get them for free anyhow.
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