Manatee County, Florida. Wal-Mart Loss Prevention Officers allegedly witnessed the suspect, 21-year old James Slaughter, remove a video game from its packaging and conceal it within his clothes. The Loss Prevention Officers contacted the sheriff's office out of fear that the suspect would flee upon confrontation. Multiple deputies responded to the scene with a K-9 unit. Slaughter passed all points of sale without making an attempt to purchase the concealed video game.
The Deputies approached the suspect in the store parking lot and then he attempted to flee. The dog bit him in the buttocks and leg. The 21-year old Defendant was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor petit theft.
During the chaotic chase and dog bite, the mother of the suspect, 41-year old Cathy Slaughter, jumped to her son's rescue. Mother Slaughter allegedly tried pulling the dog and deputies away from her son, including shoving a deputy in the process. The Deputies then pounced on the Mother and arrested her on charges of felony Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.
This concerned parent now faces a serious criminal charge and a maximum sentence of five years in prison if she is convicted. Her son faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail, if he is convicted on the petit theft charges.
I do not represent the Slaughters, nor do I possess information that would jeopardize attorney/client privileges. I do know that Florida law is complicated and being charged with a crime is a scary circumstance. If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime, contact a knowledgeable Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer to fight the charges against you. My firm of Tampa Criminal Defense Attorneys has over 100 years of combined experience and is ready to challenge the Court system on your behalf. Remember, you are innocent until proven guilty in a Court of Law.
