Sure inside the stores but what about on the premises; parking lot, gas station area etc?
I was a victim of an assault Sunday afternoon at the Seattle 4th avenue COSTCO store. Posted an earlier blog about the incident and Seattle Police case number, Officers contact phone # too.
I sent an email to COSTCO corporate about the situation. Specifically how the employees in the area of the assault (gas station area) could have reacted much better by contacting security and certainly calling 911 when they witnessed the assault. My assailant grabbed my cell phone away as I was trying to call 911 and tossed it, out of my reach. People witnessing the crime mostly got the heck out of there ASAP. I'm lucky to not be seriously hurt.
Corporate COSTCO's response to email: NONE!!!!!!!!!
Lack of security cameras, untrained staff-employees for such an emergency. And comments from store management staff such as:
FRont end manager: "what happens in the parking lot is considered a civil matter and Costco cannot get involved"
Security Mgr: "you have to call the police. It happened in the parking area and we consider this not our responsibility"
WOW, as a business owner and HR trained, I am SHOCKED!
Maybe I should get an attorney.
Below an excerpt of the assault incident, given to Seattle Police:
I was assaulted this afternoon while waiting in a gas line at the Seattle 4th avenue COSTCO store, very right hand pump lane, approx 2:00-2:10 pm, Sunday, Nov 15.
On the way home from a morning trip, I dropped by COSTO for gas and dog food etc. Waiting for an available gas pump, all of a sudden my truck driver's door jerks open violently. In leans this big fella; 28-34 years old, 6-3+, 230lbs+, Caucasion, short dark hair, clean cut, wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes and Seahawk jersey and cap....and grabs me trying to jerk me outta my Toyota Tundra-white. But the seat belt grabs and HE is unable to pull me out to "teach me something I'll never F___ forget...". I had no exit, no chance to flee or drive off to remove myself from the area. My vehicle was boxed in front and rear by other cars. The now opened driver's door was blocked by the big guy standing there, now I'm fending off his assault and my mind starts considering alternatives...to save MY LIFE or from serious Body harm.
Unbelievably, I stay relatively calm and ask him to exit my vehicle space and let go of me. Now HE clenches his fists and readies to slam one into my face. I pull back and say: "see that hunting gear behind my seat, If you hit me I WILL SHOOT YOU. HE looks and sees the camo and asst hunting gear, camo backpack etc behind the seat. Then HE pulls away and steps back, proceeds to turn his Seahawk hat around so the cap's bill is in the back and makes fists and starts coming again. Now I pull the cell phone and dial 911. HE says fine call the cops it will be too late and proceeds to rip my cell phone out of my hands and toss it into the passenger side feet well (I later find my cell phone under the truck's passenger seat). Being seatbelted in, I cannot reach the phone. HE misses with the first punch as I leaned over attempting to reach my cell phone. NOW I reach behind my drivers seat. LOUD CLICK, I un-snap the SOC knife attached to my backpack. HE immediately backs off, out of my drivers space when HE hears the click!
I never show him the 6" SOG blade in my hand, still hidden behind my center console-rear seat area. My vision focused on his neck and ready to react if necessary.
I still don't know HOW in the world I stayed so CALM!
HE yells profanity about almost hitting his pregnant wife in the COSTCO parking lot crosswalk. No such thing occurred. HIS Wife/SHE then admitted to the gas attendant that my wheels spun a little bit and it startled her. Being ready to deliver in 2 weeks, HE got upset. UPset enough to walk the 2/10 of a mile through the COSTCO parking lot from the parking lot intersection/stop signed area to my truck, where I was waiting for an available pump. The pregnant WIFE pulled him away to walk away, she probaly heard my bluff about shooting him if HE didn't stop. I never saw him coming but that door jerking open and getting grabbed sure scared the hell outta me. For a brief moment, I thought of being car jacked.
Apparently what set HIM off was My wheels spun in my avoiding a car turning left while I had nearly completed my right turn. The driver of that call, a young girl, was not paying attention due to being on her cell phone. She almost hit my drivers side, rear panel of the truck. She did wave sorry to me later when she was in a gas line 2 lanes away. Being wet pavement and my pick up bed was unloaded. My trucks pickup bed was very light due to unloading a payload the day before and I hadn't let the additional air suspension/spring support down to normal yet. The spinning wheel, very very brief, startled his wife standing on the sidewalk, clear of the parking area cross walk. I knew not of this startling and there was no intent on my part to do so and no exchanges whatsoever with HIM prior to him violently jerking my door open. When his wife led him away toward the store's entrance, the gas attendant checked if I was ok,,,she was nice but the look on her face was concerned & scared too.
I put the SOG knife back in its scabbard, settled my nerves and drove home, doing so in shock. But later, 45 min later, I went back to the Costco store to file a report and to file a police report, receiving a case number.
so I spent over 2+ hours in the COSTCO managers office, giving statements to COSTCO Management & Security and the later arriving Seattle Police officer about the assualt. The COSTCO gas attendant left her statement & eye witness report with the police too.
If my assailant is arrested, COSTCO will press charges for tresspass and malicious assault of a customer. I will be pressing charges for his assault. My left shoulder has sharp pain from HIM trying to jerk me outta the truck. Lucky I had my seat belt on, I think it saved me from a severe beating by keeping me in my seat. I sure hope they arrest this big fella soon.
If anyone here witnessed this incident please call SPD officer T. Saewong #6957 as your witness, case #2009-399257, phone# 206-386-1850
Several people/COSTCO gas customers came up to me later asking if I was ok. They thought HE knew me by him coming up and opening my truck door. But a couple saw the violent opening of the door and the look on my face as HE attempted to extract me from my truck. Everyone soon realized this was a serious incident occuring. Seveal people jumped in their cars and just drove off. I'm lucky the seat belt stopped me because I doubt anyone would have come to my aid as my head was getting kicked in.
so, Does COSTCO care about the safety of their members-Customers?
apparently by their lack or response to my incident, I say not.
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