Outrage Grows After Autistic Teen Worker Arrested at Meijer for Eating Snacks
Meijer, a Midwest supermarket chain, is under intense scrutiny after bodycam footage surfaced showing a store manager in Seven Hills, Ohio, having a 19-year-old autistic deli worker arrested for minor theft involving snacks.
The video, dated March 7, 2024, shows James Denison being confronted in a back office by a store manager and a local police officer. Denison, wearing his Meijer uniform, quietly listens as the manager accuses him of taking $110 worth of food — primarily chicken portions and fruit cups — over the course of three months. Denison said the items were meals he ate during shifts and had forgotten to pay for.
The manager’s demeanor, which many online have described as smug or gleeful, sparked immediate outrage. In the footage, he even used a finger gun gesture to point Denison out to the officer.
Denison, who remained calm and compliant, was searched, handcuffed, and placed in a police vehicle. The arresting officer attempted to reassure him, saying, “We do things a little differently… We kind of help people out,” though Denison was still booked, fingerprinted, and released without bond.
The arrest video has gone viral across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, with the hashtag #BoycottMeijer trending as thousands condemn the chain’s handling of the situation. Critics argue the punishment was excessive and humiliating — particularly for a young, neurodivergent employee who walked to work daily and posed no threat.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Kerry Campbell, a Florida nurse, has already raised over $28,000 for Denison’s legal expenses, transportation, and basic living needs.
Meijer has not issued a public statement at this time. Attempts to reach Denison for comment have been unsuccessful.
