A Louisiana man claims he was only trying to help mall employees restrain an alleged shoplifter who fled the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge last week after she swiped several items from inside a department store.
Now he’s facing simple battery charges.
Authorities arrested Frank Lamb last Saturday after he was seen on viral video kicking and yelling at the accused thief as she lay pinned to the ground by at least three Macy’s employees, Baton Rouge station WAFB9 reported. Explaining away his actions, Lamb told investigators he was attempting to use his foot to “move [the suspect’s] hand away,” yet bystander video clearly shows him kick the woman not once, but twice in the face.
On Valentine’s Day, Latonya Hamilton, 49, entered a Macy’s fitting room with a handful of items and a large shopping bag. Moments later, the store’s surveillance video captured her leaving the fitting room with the items tucked in her bag as she exited the store without paying for them.
It wasn’t long before Hamilton and a store worker were duking it out, tussling over the bag on the ground outside. The employee told police that Hamilton tried biting her during their scuffle and began scratching her on the face and arms. Authorities said a mall security guard eventually stepped in to detain Hamilton, who briefly broke free but was apprehended a short time later.
It was during one of the tussles with Macy’s employees that police say Lamb allegedly walked over to Hamilton, who was already being restrained, and yelled “settle down!” before kicking her in the face.
A woman who identified herself as one of Hamilton’s relatives told WAFB the kicks from Lamb were totally unwarranted, especially when the video shows she was already being held down by several people. In the end, police charged Hamilton with theft, resisting an officer, simple battery and simple criminal damage to property.
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