over $.89 drink refill
A North Charleston man was hit with a federal fine for
refilling his drink without paying.
The on-site
construction worker says he didn't know refills at
the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston
came at a price, and Wednesday, during his lunch
hour, he was slapped with federal charges.
The ticket was issued by the Federal Police Force at
the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston
after Christopher Lewis refilled his soda without
paying the $0.89.
A hospital spokesperson called it
a "theft of government property." "Every time I look at the ticket, it's unbelievable to
me," says Lewis, who works construction. "I can't
fathom the fact that I made a $0.89 mistake that
cost me $525." Lewis is now out of a job.
According to a hospital
spokesperson, signs are posted in the cafeteria
informing patrons that refills aren't free.
Lewis says
he never noticed the signs and admits he had
refilled his drink without paying on other
occasions.
He says after he went back for seconds on Wednesday, a man who identified himself as the
chief of police, stopped him.
"As I was filling my cup up, I turned to walk off and
a fella grabbed me by the arm and asked me was I
going to pay for that, and I told him I wasn't aware
that I had to pay for that."
Lewis says he tried to pay the $0.89 right there, but
wasn't allowed to. He says he wasn't given the
chance to pay the cashier either. "I never had an option to make right what I had
done wrong." He says he was taken to a room, given the $525
ticket for shoplifting and told not to return to the
property.
"I'm done there, at the VA hospital. I'm not allowed
to go on the premises anymore. I asked him can I
still work on the job site and just bring my lunch
and not got to the cafeteria and he said he wanted
me off the premises."
A hospital spokesperson says it was her
understanding that Lewis was aggressive during
the confrontation.
The medical center released the following
statement: The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is
fortunate to have a highly trained Federal police
force to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors
and employees.
As Federal police they are
responsible for enforcing the law. Today a Federal
citation was issued for shoplifting in the VA cafeteria to an individual who stated to VA police
he had not paid for refills of beverages on multiple
occasions, even though signs are posted in the
cafeteria informing patrons refills are not free.
Shoplifting is a crime. The dollar amount of the
ticket is not determined by VA as it is a Federal citation.
The citation may be paid or the recipient
may choose to appear in Federal court to contest it. Lewis and his fiancé have contacted the Internal
Affairs Office in Columbia. He says he will contest
the fine in federal court.
"It's about pretty much I guess you would say
getting your face back. I want everybody to know
that I made a simple mistake, that I'm not a thief,
that I'm not dishonest. I'm trying to do the right
thing."
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