Dollar General Clerk charged with spanking customer's child with belt

[jnelsoninjax]

WRIGHTSVILLE, Ga. -- A worker at the Dollar General Store in Wrightsville was arrested Thursday and charged with spanking a customer's child with a belt.

Wrightsville Police Chief Paul Sterling said he had never encountered a case like this before.

Sterling says he and an investigator went to the Dollar General Store after receiving a call from the child's father that his son had been spanked by a store worker with a belt.

Sterling said the store's surveillance video showed it all.

Apparently, the 8-year-old boy was running around the store and got into a confrontation with 39-year-old Emilia Graciela Bell. Bell told investigators the boy threw a cookie at her and that's when she removed her belt, chased the boy down and spanked him behind the counter.

The boy's mother and sister, who were also in the store, did not witness the spanking, according to the chief.

The chief says Bell was immediately arrested and admitted to investigators what she did.

Sterling said after consulting with other law enforcement leaders, they charged Bell with simple battery. She was taken to jail and bonded out Friday morning, he said.

Source

[Davo]

I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever worked in retail has wanted to just start whooping some bratty kid's ass. Not right but maybe kids will think twice.

[theyarecomingforyou]

It is the job of parents to discipline their children, not strangers - even then it should never be done with an implement like a belt. I don't think she'd appreciate somebody disciplining her for stepping out of line. Some people shouldn't be allowed out in public.

[remixedcat]

and 8 year old threw a cookie at her.

[theyarecomingforyou]

and 8 year old threw a cookie at her.

Obviously the kid had it coming! I'm surprised she didn't just shoot the kid.

[The Evil Overlord]

Shame we're not allowed to do that in the UK anymore, I can think of plenty of little sh*ts running around that could benefit from a good spanking

[theyarecomingforyou]

Shame we're not allowed to do that in the UK anymore

People have never been allowed to go around assaulting other people's children. There was physical discipline in schools but that's not comparable to this case.

I can think of plenty of little sh*ts running around that could benefit from a good spanking

I can think of plenty of adults worthy of the same treatment but that's not how a civilised society behaves.

[The Evil Overlord]

People have never been allowed to go around assaulting other people's children. There was physical discipline in schools but that's not comparable to this case.

I can think of plenty of adults worthy of the same treatment but that's not how a civilised society behaves.

...And therein lies the problem, the adults I see in need of some discipline in my area are the kids from 5, 10 or even 15 or so years ago that had the same attitude problem as they do now, or worse, being civil is all well and good, but but they aren't civil, and definitely don't think that society as wee see it, as something they want to be a part of...

(But I'm not going to get into a debate about that, as I'll simply run out of tactful replies)

[FloatingFatMan]

I can think of plenty of adults worthy of the same treatment but that's not how a civilised society behaves.

Who says US society is particularly civilised? :p

[freak180]

Why was the 8 year old alone in the store?

[JaredFrost]

Who says US society is particularly civilised? :p

Simple observation tells us otherwise.

[Hum]

Kinky -- I'm going to shop there.

[shakey]

Biggest problem of this story, no one who was responsible for the kid was even watching it. Let it run around and cause havoc. The store clerk probably did more parenting in those few minutes than the parents of that kid have ever done to that kid.

[FloatingFatMan]

Simple observation tells us otherwise.

Spend some time in Detroit and then try saying that again.

With a straight face.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

and 8 year old threw a cookie at her.

Apparently it was a cookie jar. http://www.ajc.com/a...rs-child/nWDH8/

Makes you wonder why the kid was left to roam freely around the store and why a stranger had to do more parenting then the parents. The boys father, instead of calling the police, should have thanked the woman.

[JaredFrost]

Spend some time in Detroit and then try saying that again.

With a straight face.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying, unless you're saying Detroit is the pillar of civilised behaviour, one to which

the rest of the US, nay THE WORLD should strive to :shifty:

[theyarecomingforyou]

Makes you wonder why the kid was left to roam freely around the store and why a stranger had to do more parenting then the parents. The boys father, instead of calling the police, should have thanked the woman.

Assaulting a child with a belt is not parenting, especially when done by a complete stranger. I was smacked as a child and I think it's a perfectly acceptable form of discipline - however, it should only be administered by family members and I strongly oppose the use of physical implements (i.e. a belt). I would have involved the police if that had happened to a child of mine.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Assaulting a child with a belt is not parenting, especially when done by a complete stranger. I was smacked as a child and I think it's a perfectly acceptable form of discipline - however, it should only be administered by family members and I strongly oppose the use of physical implements (i.e. a belt). I would have involved the police if that had happened to a child of mine.

Maybe the parents should have been parenting instead of letting their child roam free throwing items at adults.

Though I do agree with you that parenting should come from the parents...this is a prime example where the parents didn't have control over their kid and are as much at fault as the clerk.

[freak180]

Assaulting a child with a belt is not parenting, especially when done by a complete stranger. I was smacked as a child and I think it's a perfectly acceptable form of discipline - however, it should only be administered by family members and I strongly oppose the use of physical implements (i.e. a belt). I would have involved the police if that had happened to a child of mine.

Well excuse me that people in the US dont following your parenting skills. Honestly parents spank their children less now in days and we see the results of that now...

[theyarecomingforyou]

Well excuse me that people in the US dont following your parenting skills.

What does this have to do with nationality? This behaviour is clearly deemed inappropriate in the US too, as otherwise the police wouldn't have been involved.

[McKay]

I was spanked as a child, and I'm glad to see my little brothers are still being spanked. However a complete stranger shouldn't do it.

[jordanspringer]

I don't see anything wrong with this child being spanked with a belt.

[Richteralan]

Maybe the parents should have been parenting instead of letting their child roam free throwing items at adults.

Though I do agree with you that parenting should come from the parents...this is a prime example where the parents didn't have control over their kid and are as much at fault as the clerk.

O don't worry. In the USA, parents are never "wrong" with their bratty kids.

This is the usual response from a mom:

http://youtu.be/qcOC64dtXpM?t=4m10s

[Growled Member]

Maybe the judge should sentence her to a public whipping so she would know how it felt.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Maybe the judge should sentence her to a public whipping so she would know how it felt.

This. If you're allowed to smack a stranger's child with a belt then you must be equally entitled to do the same to an adult who steps out of line. Somebody swears in public? Better take your belt off and give them a good smack. Somebody bumps into you and makes you spill your coffee? Better take your belt off and give them a good smack. There's simply no way to draw the line, as when does a "spanking" become assault? You just end up with anarchy. I honestly don't see how anyone could think this was appropriate.