Really no part of this story rings true. Common sense should prevail and we should question most parts of the story. hopefully, readers are not so naive as to believe everything they read. Why would Walmart and their employees want to conspire against anyone and when did the employees and Police Department have the meeting about banning the couple? Try re-writing the article when the facts are known. This is hyperbole.

Wal-Mart security are my heroes. Thanks for doing your job.

I can't believe anybody actually shops at Walmart. They sell JUNK. They cater to the uneducated and the unsophisticated.

majianxiaoa23 -- maybe you should try shopping for a boyfriend at Walmart instead of standing on a street corner!! At the very least if you're not satisfied with the product you can return it for a full refund!!!

I live in Tulsa, Ok, something similiar to this happened at a Walmart here. The Walmart security confronted a college student who had just made a purchase as she was walking outside of the store. The girl thought that this person who had no badge on was someone trying to harm her and ran back into the store, where the man then tackled her and told the girl that he was the police. When she asked what she had done, he told her "she knew". The man then took her to a room where a lady told her that the man was the police and she needed to cooperate. The girl was later released without any explanation. She then called her parents immediately, who then called the real police. It turns out that this man was a Walmart security person, who had no basis for what he did, or could technically "touch" anyone. Needless to say, this family is suing Walmart, and I wish them as well as this other couple the best. These tactics are wrong, and no one else in this country should or would get away with it.

While I do not agree with the security at that Walmart, you should not judge an entire company for what those particular employees at that store did. Walmart is a multi-million dollar company and everyone that thinks they can get something for nothing from them will indeed try.

A retailer has the right to ban anyone,at anytime,for any legal reason.They also have the right to protect their employees and merchandise. If someone disagrees with that,dont shop at Wal-Mart. If they dont want this couple shopping at their stores, I dont have a problem with it. Rather than prosecuting shoplifters,most major retailers slap a "no trespassing" against the person or persons. Its much cheaper than prosecuting shoplifters. I believe that all shoplifters should be prosecuted regardless of cost. It will send a message that the retailer dosnt condone stealing. Wal-Mart has acted reasonably in this case. Hopefully they wont bend under any pressure. They have to stand up to abusive "customers" who try to manipulate the system.

Jiallyn: obviously you just believe everything you read. I certainly wouldn't want you on a jury. The thing is, you have to read between the lines on these AOL articles. These are not serious journalists and the facts usually fall somewhere in the middle. You can't believe that EVERYONE else is wrong and this couple is right. There are two sides to every story. Try to get a little balance in life.

Sounds to me like Wally World doesn't like gays. Yep, these men should sue BIGTIME. They were harassed and embarassed in public, and then kicked while they were down (figuretively). Wal-Mart has been building a reputation over the years of not being such a great place to be. Most of the stores are filthy and manned by people that I personally wouldn't allow in my home. But this particular case of as obvious as an axe in the face. While I personally am not gay, I believe that gays deserve, and should have the same rights are respect that any other people should have. BOYCOTT WAL-MART!

I'm not gay, but I've seen a lot of prejudice against them. Hey, we're all human beings and regardless of our sexual proclivity, it's not okay to act uncivilized toward one another. If this story is indeed true, WalMart needs to pay for their actions and quickly send a no tolerance memo to its employees. The only way to get this message through their thick skulls is to hit them in the pocketbook and chastise them in the media. Just like the only way to stop police brutality, or at least temper it, is to sue the city and hopefully they'll re-evaluate their policies.

They share part of the blame for "being loud"??? Well, excuse me, but I would likely become rather loud myself if I were being detained for NOT stealing too. They were approached and asked about lighters, they showed the receipt that proved there was no shoplifting, yet they were still detained and it's THEIR fault for getting loud in response? That's just nuts. What right does Wal-Mart (or any establishment) have to detain anyone once it's been established that no crime took place? Isn't such detainment actually KIDNAPPING? Just another reason to NEVER shop Wal-Mart...they are the worst company to disgrace American soil in all of history.

This is in response to Vanessa's comment: I moved to a small town two years ago. In this town, there are only two stores in which to buy groceries, the Wal-mart and one other. The Wal-mart is the larger of the two and there I can buy a lot of the items I grew to love in the large city I moved from - reduced fat chips, spicy V-8 juice, light english muffins, gourmet Belgium chocolates, etc. To say that those of us who shop at Wal-mart are uneducated is ignorant of you. The first thing a true sophisticate does is to open her mind. I would not expect that of you.

With stores literally everywhere in America and at least a dozen other countries, Walmart is one of the most successful retailers and employers in the world. The Walmart Corporation might be the spawn of a devout Christian family, but it’s not the "All Mighty Lord" that rules here, it’s the All Mighty Dollar, and Walmart is in no shortage of those. I hate to say it, but a few little cases like this aren't going to make a difference. If this went to court, it might ruffle a few feathers but any settlement out of this would be a drop in the bucket. In the end the case would go pretty much unnoticed. It happens all the time.

Vanessa, in some cases I might agree with you which is why there is a website called peopleofwalmart.com (Check it out its pretty funny). But, alot of the "junk" that Walmart sells... is the same "junk" sold at Target, Sears, Kohls, grocery stores.... I think you get the picture. BUT the really funny thing is...sometimes... they sell the EXACT SAME stuff, for less money than the other stores... SO people can save money in this economy (which might I add, hasn't recovered yet). What a novel idea that is!!!

Ever balance a budget? Or can you not see past that silver spoon sticking out from your mouth? I don’t know where you buy your groceries from, but if you have a family to feed, a business to run or just your own bills to pay; you learn to grow up, ignore the weirdo's, go in and get what you need and get out. That’s called being a grown up....or mature....adult...whatever you want to call it.

And by the way, classifying "everyone" who might shop there...ever, as unsophisticated.... IS uneducated and unsophisticated.

That's a problem in this country. Everyone is sue happy. So, you feel you were not treated right at a store. Don't shop there anymore.

You are an idiot

jlallyn , All you sue happy goofs are why prices have hit the roof for everything from hot coffee at McDonald's to Dr.'s visits and hospital stays.
Leave my WalMart alone, it is one of the few places poor to middle class can afford anymore.

How do you know that they should sue? Have you seen the security tapes? You don't know how the two acted or what they said to WalMart personnel and vice-versa. People like you are jealous of success and think that any successful company should be prey to stupid lawsuits. Please , stay off of juries.

Think People! "...After extensive phone calls to the Sheriff's Department, the pair managed to get their sons interviewed, but the law enforcement officers and the county prosecutor refused to cooperate when Paolucci and Hitchcock requested that they proffer charges against Walmart."
News flash to these two. The county prosecutor can..."refuse to cooperate!" Who the hell does this pair think they are? The prosecutor can prosecute...or not..especially if it sounds as though the pair were "requesting" a charge with the primary motive being retaliation.
I can assure you that Wal-mart doesn't have some "anti-gay" agenda. It's about your cash and not your preference for chicken or tube steak. As any business owner will tell you, some business is not worth the hassle. Famed retailer John C. Wanamaker once said that "the Customer is king." Today, the customer is...a customer...not a King. Reality suggests that (He/they) may be Drama Queens out for a quick buck from a lawsuit without merit.

I believe every bit of this... walmart managers are a hungry lot... scrambling to bust a shoplifter, or employee who steals to use as a feather in their cap! I worked at WM while in college and it was hilarious to see what a cruel company they were... made me glad I wasn't a college dropout getting sucked into their management program... cause most burn out and end up in some other retail hellhole.