Security guard at 99 Cents store is fired after he maces and repeatedly punches a female shoplifter in the face
Los Angeles CA March 1 2019
A security guard at a 99 Cents Only Store in Los Angeles has been fired after he was filmed using mace on a female shoplifter and repeatedly punching her in the face.
The male guard tried to block the woman from leaving the 99 Cents Only Store in Van Nuys on Thursday after witnesses saw her grabbing items and putting them in her bag.
He was filmed ordering the woman, identified as Sonjia Broussard, to surrender her bag so he could inspect it.
The guard tried to grab the woman’s bag when she refused to hand it over and they struggled briefly as she maintained her grip.
The woman was then filmed taking items from her bag and throwing them at the guard’s face.
He retaliated by spraying mace in her face.
The woman lashed out and was caught on camera hitting the guard in his face.
He punched the woman and caused a display of sunglasses to fall over. The guard was filmed hitting the woman a second time.
The woman left the store soon after without her bag and was arrested by police nearby.
She was charged with theft and battery in relation to the incident with the guard.
The security guard was fired a day after the incident.
Police considered charging the security guard but later determined that he had retaliated to her initially striking him in the face.
Authorities did acknowledge that the guard used more force than they would have expected
