Arrest of Autistic Employee Over Food Theft Sparks Outrage at Meijer

A viral video showing the arrest of a 19-year-old autistic employee at a Meijer store is sparking outrage across Michigan and Ohio. The deli worker was taken into custody after allegedly eating about $110 worth of food items, including chicken and fruit cups, during his shifts. The theft is said to have taken place over a three-month period.

The Viral Video Surfaces

The footage, recorded by a police body camera in March 2024 but only surfacing widely this month, shows 19-year-old James Denison, a deli worker with autism, being questioned, searched, and arrested in the manager's office inside the Meijer store in Seven Hills, Ohio.

Critics argue the incident highlights a lack of compassion and raises questions about how large corporations handle vulnerable employees.

Public Outrage and Boycott Calls

Backlash has been swift, according to MLive. Customers, disability advocates, and social media users have called for boycotts under the hashtag #boycottmeijer, with many saying the situation should have been handled internally rather than through the criminal justice system. A short-lived GoFundMe campaign in support of the worker raised thousands of dollars before being taken down.

Meijer Responds to the Controversy

The Grand Rapids-based retailer acknowledged the controversy, saying it has put new policies in place to prevent similar situations. In a statement issued earlier this week, Meijer admitted the situation should have been handled differently.

"We take this very seriously and recognize that the situation should have been handled differently,” the statement read. “Earlier this year, we implemented a new procedure to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We’ve learned a great deal of experience. [sic] We hold ourselves to a higher standard and are committed to making sure our actions reflect how we want to treat each other.”