WFAA – MESQUITE – The Mesquite parents of a 16 year old youth want a direct apology and investigation by Kroger Grocery stores.
Ukia Swain of Mesquite says she got a screaming phone call Thursday from her young son, asking her to come to the Kroger store on Faithon P. Lucas Road; saying the police were coming. Swain says her son told her he and friends had just purchased snacks at that store. Swain says she arrived to ask the manager what the issue was, and she said he was “snarky” to her, saying the boys looked like they could be shoplifters. The police had been called to issue the kids a criminal trespass warning. Customers reportedly told Swain store employees had been following the kids around the store before she arrived.
Swain had the kids return the snacks. “It’s like you look at the whole world different now,” said Zavarion Swain as he described the embarrassment and trauma he says the teens endured.
Through a statement issues, Kroger ‘s Corporate Affairs Manager April Martin Nickels said, “We are taking this complaint very seriously and are currently investigating this matter. We value all of our customers, and apologize if anyone was made to feel less than welcomed.”
Swain believes the kids were unfairly, and racially profiled. She wants an investigation by Kroger, and a direct apology.
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