Ross employee accuses black customer of stealing shoes, then suddenly changes his mind when confronted, viral video shows

The footage shows a Ross employee confronting a black customer and accusing him of stealing shoes, before calling his co-workers and asking them to call the police, and later denying he ever made the theft accusations.

The footage shows a loss prevention employee at a Ross Dress for Less store approaching a person sitting within the shoe department and pretending to try on shoes.

“Will you return what you stole?” the employee asks the customer.

Employee stops while customer records him, then activates radio and asks coworker to call police.

“We have a situation, an active situation,” the employee says over the radio. “Let’s get the police involved.”

The footage shows the employee and the consumer sitting and waiting for a moment. The employee can be seen talking to a colleague from a distance in regards to the situation.

Ultimately, the footage doesn’t show any police response or further motion by the loss prevention employee. Instead, the consumer is seen confronting the employee, asking how the situation is being resolved.

“Where are the police?” the customer asks.

“What police?” replies the loss prevention officer.

“You said you called the police,” the customer states.

“What are you talking about, brother?” the employee asks, looking bewildered. “Why are you approaching me with this?”

The shopper recounts the initial confrontation, by which the employee says he approached him, accused him of theft and told him the police could be notified, however the employee is adamant he doesn’t remember making those accusations. He tells the consumer he never approached him and doesn’t know him.

In a bizarre try to shut down the conversation and denounce the accusations, the employee states, “It’s legal to be gay, man. Shut up,” and then walks away.

The customer continued to press the employee about calling the police, and the employee urged him to call 911 himself, denying that he ever tried to contact authorities.

“You can keep buying shoes or just leave. Leave me alone,” the employee says.

The video has been viewed by 1000’s of people online, with many commenters confused by the employee’s sudden change in behavior and his attempts to dismiss his accusations.

“Then he realized he made a mistake and needed that little job at Ross, smh,” one commenter said.

“I would call a manager immediately,” one other person wrote.