GASTONIA, North Carolina — Gastonia Police are searching for a man accused of trying to impersonate a Walmart employee in order to steal from the store.
The incident, which happened at the Walmart along E. Franklin Boulevard Monday, turned violent when a shopper said he tried to stop the man, only to end up scuffling with the suspect.
Jerry Butler said he and his family were walking out of the store after buying gifts for his grandchildren when they were approached by a man who allegedly claimed to be a Walmart employee.
"He had a coat on [that looked] like Walmart," Butler said.
The man told the family he needed to see their gift receipt so Butler's wife handed it to him, according to Butler.
"But when he turned, he didn't have that Walmart sticker on his back," Butler said. "My wife said something ain't right."
Gastonia Police said the man tried to use Butler's receipt to trick the real Walmart employees into thinking he had bought some items he shoplifted.
But the real workers weren't buying it, and Butler said when he and his wife identified the man to employees, the suspect ran out of the store.
Butler chased him through the parking lot and tackled him.
"He was trying to get something out of his coat. I thought it might have been a gun," Butler said. "[My granddaughter] started swiping at his hand, but it was mace, but he didn't get us."
Butler is sharing his story because he wants it to be a warning to all holiday shoppers.
"Watch what you're doing," Butler said. "You don't know who's watching you or what's going on."
Gastonia Police said they are still investigating. No arrests have been made yet.
WCNC will update this story if more information becomes available.