A trip to Kroger spiraled into a shouting match this week after two customers allegedly cursed out an employee and refused to leave, forcing police to step in.
When officers arrived at the Gay Street store, they were greeted with insults and profanity. One woman shouted, “Freedom of speech, Donald Trump bitch!” from the parking lot, then refused to identify herself while continuing to berate officers.
Police described her as “extremely irrational and verbally combative,” noting the incident unfolded in front of her children. The woman repeatedly tried to push past officers, threatened to call higher-ups, and declared she “did not care” when informed she was barred from the store. A no-trespass order was issued regardless.
Retail workers say this kind of behavior is far from rare. Employees are often on the front lines of customer frustration, facing harassment, insults, and even threats while just trying to do their jobs. Police note that even minor disruptions can quickly escalate, leaving workers and shoppers caught in the middle.
Experts suggest stores support their staff with de-escalation training, clear trespass policies, and backup from management — while reminding the public that kindness, patience, and respect go a lot further than insults and tantrums.
For Kroger employees that day, a simple work shift turned into yet another reminder that sometimes, the real chaos isn’t in the checkout line — it’s in the parking lot.
