Target fires worker for allegedly reporting a sheriff's deputy was shoplifting

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Dallas Northington, who worked at a Target store in Leesburg, Virginia, as a security employee, claims he was fired in May shortly after reporting a shoplifter who may have been a sheriff’s deputy to authorities.

Northington, 29, told The Washington Post he reacted to this case like he had in several past cases by notifying the Leesburg police, filing a report and providing video surveillance.

Roughly a week after filing the report, Northington was fired for “gross misconduct” because he contacted police without filing paperwork internally and without approval.

“I’m confused and don’t understand why,” Northington told The Post. “I’ve been there for eight years, no issues. I’m just trying to provide for my family, and I just really want to get back to work.”

The former Target employee of eight years said store supervisors recognized the suspect from the surveillance footage, and the same suspect was caught shoplifting on two separate occasions at the store.

The Post reports they did not name the alleged suspect because no charges were filed, however the suspect in question retired from the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office shortly after Northington filed the report.

Leesburg police told the publication they had not confirmed the identity of the suspect.

A Target spokesperson said in an e-mail to theGrio:

To protect the privacy of both current and former team members, we don’t provide details such as employment status or reasons for departure. As it relates to this specific inquiry, we have conducted a full investigation and don’t believe there is any merit to this individual’s claims.

TheGrio has reached out to Northington and is still awaiting response.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.