Inset: Mike Whigham (Sanford Police Department). Background: The 7-Eleven where Whigham works in Sanford, Fla. (Google Maps).
A Florida 7-Eleven clerk was recently arrested for locking up a customer during an argument, Sunshine State police say.
Mike Whigham, 49, stands accused of one count of kidnapping by false imprisonment, according to Seminole County court records.
The incident took place at a 7-Eleven located on South Orlando Drive in Sanford, a medium-sized city within the greater Orlando metro area, as detailed in an arrest report acquired by Law&Crime.
On Sept. 15, a man called police about his experience while trying to purchase a Black & Mild – a popular, flavored small cigar.
The man said when he entered the store, the defendant was cleaning and “did not stop to assist him up,” according to the arrest report.
Things escalated rapidly as one man’s quest for cleanliness clashed with another man’s craving for sweetened tobacco, leading to a “verbal argument,” according to police. Ultimately, Whigham instructed the customer to vacate the premises or face trespassing charges and potential jail time, the report states.
The situation intensified when the customer alleged that the defendant “locked the door and did not permit him to exit while he contacted 911,” the report reveals. Subsequently, the customer accused Whigham of “kidnapping” him, prompting the clerk to unlock the door and await law enforcement, police report.
As the report indicates, Whigham was Mirandized and subsequently interviewed. His account of the events appeared to align closely with the statements provided by the disgruntled customer, according to the authorities.
According to the arrest report, at length:
[The defendant] claimed he felt apprehensive about the situation and retreated to the back of the store. [The defendant] expressed his wish for [the customer] to exit and contacted 911. [The defendant] admitted to locking the door to detain [the customer] until the police arrived, positioning himself in front of the door at times. [The defendant] later unlocked the door, acknowledging that his actions were incorrect.
The defendant was released from jail on Sept. 19, on $5,000 bail.
He is next slated to appear in court for an arraignment on Nov. 4.
The post Florida 7-Eleven clerk kidnapped customer over argument about punctual service, police say first appeared on Law & Crime.
