Ryan Mitchell grabbed his jacket and ran out of the store without even clocking out, pushing through the glass doors and sprinting toward the bus stop where Officer Shawn Pierce was holding Khalil Garner in handcuffs. Ryan had sold Khalil those sneakers less than 20 minutes ago, had processed the payment himself, and had watched Khalil's face light up when the transaction went through. And now he was watching that same kid being treated like a criminal for a purchase that was completely legitimate. Ryan ran straight up to Pierce, his voice loud enough to cut through the murmur of the crowd. "What the hell do you think you're doing?
That boy didn't steal anything. He has his receipt. Did you even check that? Or are you arresting him just because he's black?" Pierce turned to look at Ryan, and his expression shifted from authoritative to irritated.
"Mind your business. This is police business. If you don't step back right now, you'll be interfering with an official investigation, and that's a crime." Ryan didn't step back. Instead, he took another step forward and pointed at Khalil.
"It is my business. I work in that store right there. I was the one who sold him those shoes less than 20 minutes ago. Everything checked out. He paid in full.
He has a receipt. He shouldn't be getting arrested for stealing when he obviously didn't." Ryan pulled out his phone and started recording, holding it up so the camera was pointed directly at Pierce. "You have no legal reason to arrest him. I've confirmed as an employee of the store that he didn't steal those shoes.