DA: Crowd control improves at NY Walmart store where worker died last year on Black Friday
By APFriday, November 27, 2009
DA: Walmart peaceful year after deadly NY stampede
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. — Crowd control at all Walmart stores in New York appeared to be smooth Friday, a year after a security guard was crushed to death by a stampede of shoppers.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said her office was unaware of any injuries or property damage at Walmart stores in New York on the day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The prosecutor’s office also said it appears company crowd control measures “improved significantly since last year.”
In California, a Walmart store in Upland closed its doors for several hours after shoppers began fighting over merchandise. Lt. Jim Etchason said officers were called about 2:44 a.m. and helped herd customers into the parking lot.
No arrests were made, Etchason said, and groups of customers were allowed back inside by 6 a.m.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s spokesman Jodi Miller said another scuffle was reported at a Walmart in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., but deputies did not find any disturbances.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said in a statement earlier Friday that it was getting positive feedback from its customers and employees nationwide.
