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Best Buy Security Guard Fired After Tackling Wanted Man Who Allegedly Struck Police Officer
"Seemed like the logical thing to do," the California security guard insisted after helping police capture Tyler Trujillo, who is a suspect in several burglaries.
A California Best Buy security guard who tackled a wanted man who allegedly had just punched a cop has been fired for violating corporate policy.
The security guard, who is only going by his first name Tyler, told KTXL in Sacramento that he was recently fired by Best Buy for tackling Timothy Trujillo, 35, earlier this month.
Trujillo, of Reno, Nevada, was wanted in Nevada when he was spotted near Roseville, where the Best Buy is, Placer County Sheriff's Office stated. Police in Nevada contacted California authorities and told them Trujillo was wanted for several burglaries.
“Special Operations detectives located Trujillo and followed him to a parking lot in Roseville, where they attempted to contact him,” police stated. “Trujillo struck one of the detectives and fled in an attempt to escape. After a short foot pursuit they were able to get Trujillo under control and handcuffed.”
Tyler said he assisted in that pursuit by tackling Trujillo.
Police confirmed that.
“When they confronted him, the man punched one of the detectives and tried to run off, that’s when the security guard tackled the man, preventing him from escaping,” Placer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lt. Andrew Scott told KTXL.
Trujillo is now in custody without bail. He allegedly had drugs on him when he was caught and he now faces charges of assaulting and resisting a peace officer, possession of burglary tools, possession of methamphetamine, and burglary.
But Tyler, an army veteran, certainly didn’t get any medal of honor from his job. Quite the opposite.
“My manager called me in and said corporate decided to let me go because I used excessive force and it was against Best Buy’s policy to intervene,” he told KTXL.
Still, Tyler told the outlet that he feels he made the right decision.
"Like I said, it was someone running from the cops, seemed like the logical thing to do."
Best Buy defended its policy in a statement.
"Our policy is clear, employees are not to chase potential criminals outside of the store," the company has stated. "Chasing an individual in the parking lot creates a safety risk that isn’t worth taking, regardless of how noble an employee’s intention is.”
[Photo: Placer County Sheriff's Office]
