Clayton.Talk

By MVL

September 17, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

They “spectators” were probably wearing Mike Vick jerseys - they also support criminals.

The only thing that would help Clayton County at this point is turn it over to military control - or turn the whole thing into a prison.

The politicians and father-less children there have made a huge mess of that county.

By a sadden resident of Riverdale

September 17, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

I am appalled to hear what happenedat this store. I hope everyone that helped this thief gets what they deserve. Karma is real and one day these people will reap what they sowed. Also for the record every child in clayton is not fatherless and there are plenty of decent people in the county.However,not enough decent citizens, on that day, were present. It is a real shame.

By Kristie Carter

September 17, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

This story is astrocious!! Of course, I’ve experienced the same sort of indifference from WalMart personally when my mother was assaulted at the Macon, GA/ Eisenhower Parkway store. WalMart officials did nothing except interrogate my Mom and myself for hours and hours, never once asking if she was okay, and after “losing” the perpetrator (which we believe was actually them escorting her off the premesis by way of the other entry). WalMart is showing they don’t care about their customers repeatedly and Sam Walton is rolling over in his grave!!

By Lynn Tyler

September 17, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

This is symptomatic of the current condition of Clayton County. As a police officer of 31 years there is an obvious lack of support for law enforcement. Clayton County Police and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office are understaffed and under paid. Dedicated law enforcement officers are hard to find and even harder to keep. There are many just like officer Bennett who continue to care even when the public does not.

By ASD

September 17, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

It saddens me to hear this, as I live in Clayton County and I love it. I am also saddened by comments such as the one made by an earlier post. Although some of the people responsible for crime are from single parent households, there are many who are from two parent households. Maybe part of the problem is that we are too busy pointing fingers instead of stepping up to protect our community.

By Hal

September 17, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Crimes like this happen in all 3rd world countries. Why are you surprised? Get used to it because it’s gonna get worse. Clayton is now at the bottom of the barrel, as a decent place to live or shop.

By Josh

September 17, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

It is sad to see someone like Bennett who care about the community and still get attacked just because she stopped a theif. If anyone outside of Clayton wants to know why the county is in bad shape, something like this. I say people in Clayton needs to stand up for their county and stop being scared of being called tattle tales. I live in Cobb County which is a desirable place to live. I bet you if that theif was in Cobb County, he will get cought soon and that officer will get assistance.

By Erika

September 17, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this

There is a lot wrong with the Walmart on Jonesboro road (Hwy 54). I got so frustrated shopping there that I make a conscious effort to avoid that store and shop at others on 138 or Hudson Bridge Rd.

The management is lax. The lines are almost always too long. There are tons of unmanned checkouts and usally just a few open ones.

Why was one off-duty officer the only person available to try and provide security at such a large store? I fault the store for not having a large enough security force. It is obviously not safe enough for any shoppers.

We need to demand more from this business that is getting so much money from our county’s shoppers.

By S.W.

September 17, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

this is a shame, i frequent this Walmart often but only in the daytime. I was smart to do this. I would not idely stand by and watch this officer be attacked and not help. I hope this is a wake up call for all citizens in Clayton County. pleas pray for Clayton County

By S.W.

September 17, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

this is a shame, i frequent this Walmart often but only in the daytime. I was smart to do this. I would not idely stand by and watch this officer be attacked and not help. I hope this is a wake up call for all citizens in Clayton County. pleas pray for Clayton County

By mam

September 17, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

Please pray for people of this county.

There is a bad element down here and only the righteous folks here can stop them.

I would have surely helped that officer with that no-good shoplifter.

What is wrong with folks - we need to help each other with these criminals before they take over.

By J

September 17, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

No one said all clayton county children were fatherless, only that 70% nationwide are!

By Debbie

September 18, 2007 7:10 AM | Link to this

An if the specators had gotten involved then what the reporters would have been saying Walmart supports vilagante’s or one of them been injored then they would be suing Walmart and Clayton county. The officer could have called for back up. Private Citizens whether they work for Walmart or just in their shopping should not put themselves in jeopardy for a few dollars. My management team has always said you are worth more than the merchandise. While it is horrible that the officer was assualted, and the perp should be in jail. Should private citizens be risking their lives for merchandise. I don’t think so

By Dixiedarling

September 18, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this

It was not about saving merchandise, it was about saving a fellow human being. If the officer was on the ground fighting with someone how would she call for backup? Did any employee or citizen call 911?

By Honey Pie

September 18, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

Clayton Countyisa terrible palce to live, whether you are shopping at Wal-Mart or not. The police officer probably didn’t get any help because they harass the few decent citizens they have left in the county. If I was there I wouldn’t hve help the police either.

By jerry

September 18, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

Interesting… we blame the ‘evil corporate’ wal-mart or the ‘harassing’ police. While the criminals go free. OJ has nothing to worry about.

By Erika

September 18, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

There is something incredibly irresponsible about a store as large as that one not having security for its shoppers.

The article stated that the off-duty police officer was shopping at the time, so where was the paid security force?

Personally, I would have called the police. I would not have gotten into the fight.

It’s just not safe or wise to get into a physical confrontation, especially not knowing whether the combatants are armed.

By Real person

September 18, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

Watch the movie “Walmart: The high price of low cost” In this movie they show the lack of security in the parking lots of all Walmarts nationwide. They have the cameras, but nobody is watching them. What good does that do. They don’t care about you after you have paid your money, once you are out the door, you are on your own. This is just 1 of the many awful things that are WalMart.

By Real person

September 18, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

Watch the movie “Walmart: The high price of low cost” In this movie they show the lack of security in the parking lots of all Walmarts nationwide. They have the cameras, but nobody is watching them. What good does that do. They don’t care about you after you have paid your money, once you are out the door, you are on your own. This is just 1 of the many awful things that are WalMart.

By Bob

September 18, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this

My wife used to work for the Clayton County School system and things progressively got worse as “parents” started disrespecting teachers and others in authority and their kids (brats) picked up on it and did the same thing. Now Clayton County has become a haven for many who believe that crime is the only way of life. It is time that responsibility for yourself and your actions is taught and enforced at home and then in the schools but with so many people taking the side of criminals I don’t believe it will happen in my lifetime. I pray that God will reverse this and that people will respect authority and themselves. When you steal from others you actually steal more from yourself!

By Cindy

September 19, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

Okay, now I have heard it all, LOL you give your entire race a bad name, not only do you sound ignorant, you are no better then what the prisons are full of right now. When you say “These cracker cops when they’re not doing anything productive, they go around pulling people over, and harassing them. In their mind, every minority is considered a criminal. I have no sympathy when these POS cops need help.” The police are here to clean up our county and put trash like you where you belong so the rest of us are safe… from idiots like you! Now pull up your pants, sit down and shut up! Proud Cracker

By MOM

September 19, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

TO: LOL

Have fun in prison, loser.

Your attitude is what is bringing your society down the tubes - it’s time to wake up, take responsibility, and most of all, act like a real man, not some adolescent punk with no regard for your family, your illegitimate kids, their moms, or your community - it’s all about the the free ride and the show with you.

Say hey to Bubba in jail…

By Matthew

September 20, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

To: LOL

If you think that whites treat you like dirt. I suggest that you go to Saudi Arabia and say those people treat you like dirt. If you do they will hurt you. If I was you, I would be glad I live in a country where you can live freely.

P.S. You are a racist black person. I have put up with some before but, you are the most racist one.

By Carla

September 20, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

As a Black woman and the wife of a police officer/detective, I am shocked as I read this story and the comments that follow. My family and I are Clayton county citizens. We are decent people. How can any decent person, regardless of race, stand by and not only watch another person be assaulted, but join in on the attack? For those of you slamming Clayton County with your thoughtless comments, please think before you post comments that thousands of others will see.

By Kweenie

September 21, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

Um…yeah, don’t shop at Wal*Mart. It’s all cheap stuff that’s going to break when you get it home, anyway. And the food is rotten and treated with chemicals so that it looks edible. Disgusting. I don’t care what county you’re in, that’s just gross.

By Bill

September 21, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t surprise me at all. I was born and raised in Clayton, now thirty and having left several years ago, this is actual “NEWS” to you guys or should I say surprising news! C’mon a man was shot and killed on Mt. Zion road two days ago 3 million dollars of cocaine was confiscated yesterday. I mean really, I’m just pointing out stuff that happened this week. What about the toddler shot and killed during a drive by at Riverdale rec…It goes on and on. Clayton has been declining for years. If your going to post news about Clayton make sure it’s actual news, ya know something that we don’t expect!

By Clayton Resident

September 21, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Bill - maybe that’s what YOU expect of Clayton county and it’s residents, but those of us that live here do not expect to see this behavior.

Congratulations to you for getting out of Clayton since that is obviously what you wanted to do, but if you have nothing positive to contribute, even just a few sympathetic and/or kind words for the officer discussed in the article, why are you wasting your time coming here talking about stuff you already know & could care less about since you don’t even live here anymore? Last thing we need is outsiders adding their 2 cents in where it does not belong. If you don’t live here, why bother?

By Bill

September 21, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

Well anonymous Clayton Res, in case you didn’t notice this is news website where people respond to articles in which they feel they need to respond. Yes you’re right I don’t live there, however having spent most of my life in Clayton, and all of my childhood where memories are fond, I do have a right to respond. It’s sad to see the place you grew up in turn to another victim of urban sprawl. It’s just my opinion mam or sir, not to offend you. It’s just that people in the above articles act surprised that this happens in Clayton County, believe me you don’t want me to go through the list of serious crimes that have happened there in just the last couple of months. That’s all I’m saying sir or mam; that this is not news, it’s the obvious, the degradation of what once was a great place. You see it all over metro Atl. You don’t have to like my opinion, however if you try to validate in any form or fashion that Clayton is a safe, nice area, then I truly feel sorry for you.

By Clayton Resident

September 21, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

This is not “obvious” news throughout all of Clayton county. Some areas are nice and safe, no place in GA, much less the US is what it used to be.

I am one of the few that have stayed despite the problems. I have no fear in the area I live in & it is one of the nicer sections of Clayton. I have experienced no crime in my area & don’t expect to. Please don’t try to preach about how bad Clayton is when you ran instead of staying to help make the childhood home you profess to love so much a better place. No disrespect to you, it’s great that you got out, but don’t sit from up high (north?) judging based on what you see in news reports because it doesn’t portray an accurate picture of the county as a whole.

If more people who claimed to love the Clayton of old stayed to fight for it instead of selling out, cutting & running, Clayton may not have “some” the problems it does. & I same “some” because as you’ve said yourself, this is a metro ATL problem, not just in Clayton, which most who say negative stuff will not even acknowledge so thank you for doing that much.

By Bill

September 21, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this

No No No I don’t live on the N. side and never would. R U kidding me I have to drive to Atlanta 3 days a week for work. Anyway I appreciate you more now that you say you’re from there and continue to live there, hell I respect that. Honestly I tell my friends all the time if Clayton was like it used to be, I’d still be there. It’s convenient to everything. And as I said my most precious mem’s are of my family and I in Riverdale for awhile and then Jonesboro. I eventually graduated from Lovejoy in the mid 90’s recieved a football schloarship and came back to well…as you know a different place. I disagree with the people staying would have changed things, I mean reallistically when people’s cars are stolen, and neighbors shot, you’d be out of your mind to want to raise a family in that environment. Now if I was older and lived by myself, things may be different, but I doubt that I’d want to sleep with one eye open.