Popular supermarket chain under fire after store manager has autistic deli worker arrested for allegedly stealing ‘orders of chicken and fruit cups’: bodycam video
Midwestern supermarket chain Meijer is facing criticism after police body camera footage surfaced showing a 19-year-old autistic deli worker being arrested for allegedly taking food without paying over a three-month period.
The footage, recorded on March 7, 2024, at a Meijer store in Seven Hills, Ohio, shows police confronting the employee, James Denison, in the manager’s office. The video has recently gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and calls to boycott the company.
In the footage, an unidentified store manager accuses Denison of consuming approximately $110 worth of food items, including chicken and fruit cups, while on shift. Denison, wearing a store uniform, sits quietly as the manager explains the allegations to responding officers. The teen reportedly told police that the food in question was part of his meals during work shifts, which he had forgotten to pay for.
BREAKING – Americans are calling for a boycott of the retailer Meijer after bodycam footage revealed the $15 billion corporation had a 16-year-old disabled deli worker named James arrested for taking just $110 in food over three months to get through his shifts.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/Zh7MPP6Fj6
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) August 19, 2025
The video shows Denison being searched and handcuffed in the office. He told officers that he lives nearby and typically walks to work. The store manager noted that Denison had eaten some chicken in the break room prior to the meeting but was not found with any food on him at the time of arrest.
Despite the relatively minor nature of the alleged theft, Denison was transported to the local precinct, where he was fingerprinted, booked, and later released without bond. During the ride, the arresting officer tried to reassure the visibly nervous teen, stating, “We do things a little differently than a lot of departments. We kind of help people out.”
Since the footage began circulating online, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation. The hashtag #BoycottMeijer has trended on social media, with many users criticizing the company’s handling of the situation.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Kerry Campbell, a registered nurse in Florida, has raised over $28,000 to support Denison with legal fees, transportation, food, and other living expenses.
Meijer has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident and did not respond to a request for comment. Attempts to reach Denison for comment were unsuccessful.
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