City of Easley v. Cartee

Harwell, Chief Justice:

The City of Easley (the City) appeals the reversal of a municipal court shoplifting conviction, alleging that the circuit court erred in holding that the case could not be prosecuted by the security guard who effected the arrest. We reverse.

I. FACTS

On January 10, 1991, Robert Edens (Edens), a licensed security officer,1 arrested Vickie Cartee (Cartee) for shoplifting as she attempted to leave his employer’s grocery store with merchandise allegedly concealed in her purse. On February 18, 1991, Edens prosecuted the case over Cartee’s objection before a jury in…