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Some outraged after WinCo staff wrestles teen in viral video

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Thousands on social media are questioning how two WinCo loss prevention employees handled a teen girl who was caught stealing candy at a Vancouver store.

A viral video – with more than 7.2 million views – shows the two members of the loss prevention staff trying to bring the 15-year-old girl back into the store on Saturday afternoon.

In the video, you can a hear woman saying, “You are hurting her … you guys are not cops” as the teen attempts to resist the loss prevention staff.

KOIN News talked to a woman who witnessed the whole ordeal. She is outraged by the way the staff handled the incident.

Watch the video below, scroll down to keep reading.

“I get stealing is wrong. I teach my children the same thing,” the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. “My daughter was there. She asked me, ‘Why are they doing this to her?’ I said, 'She stole.' But the fact of it is people like this are taking advantage of that badge and going to the extreme and they shouldn’t have done it.”

As the video goes on, the teen admits to stealing a candy bar. Shortly after the girl was brought back into the store, police arrived and arrested her. The teen was eventually arrested and charged with second-degree robbery.

Vancouver police released a statement saying, “Based on interviews with multiple witnesses who were crowding around the detention by the loss prevention staff, none were able to describe any assaultive behavior on the part of the loss prevention staff and the video shows the suspect continuing to resist being handcuffed and detained.”

WinCo said its teams are aware of the video and are investigating further

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