Steve and Barry's

Lori and I decided to visit the new Steve and Barry's store that now occupies the building Target was formerly in on McKinley in Mishawaka. We've been to the Steve and Barry's in Orlando a couple of times so we thought we'd check this one out.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Steve and Barrys is a university and collegiate apparel store that also includes jeans, t shirts, sweats, jackets, polos and collegiate wear. Their prices are incredible. I don't think I saw anything over $15. If you want more info on the store check out their website www.steveandbarrys.com.

So we had perused the store for a while and were ready to check out. Course they have one of those fun 'heard the cattle' roped off line that you have to follow with 50 other people in line until the next available cashier calls you.

Earlier while walking around I had noticed a couple of guys shopping and the reason they stood out to me was because one of the guys had a leg brace that covered his entire leg. I dont know if it was broke but it made walking a challenge for him.

So we get in cattle line to make our purchase and a squirmish starts to happen not far from us. When I turned to look it was the guy with the leg brace shouting at the top of his voice "I didn't take anything, leave me alone" with another guy chasing him down with hand cuffs. The guy with hand cuffs kept trying to get the guy with the brace to put his hands behind his back so he could cuff him but he kept resisting and saying he didnt do anything wrong and he didnt take anything. However, the guy with the hand cuffs kept insisting he was beyond the 'point of purchase' and was persistent in trying to cuff him.

Not long after there were more store employees on the scene and trying to help get the hands of the guy with the brace behind his back. The guy with the brace was pretty irrate by now and was yelling pretty loudly and kept fighting back. It wasn't long before a knife emerged from the guys pocket.

My heart beat had increased a little when all the yelling and struggle were going on but when I saw the knife it majorly increased. Fortunately, because of all the struggle that was going on the guy with the brace couldn't keep hold of the knife and it fell to the floor. About that time they had gotten the guy with the brace to the floor but still didn't have both of his arms behind his back and there was the knife lying within his reach. Ok, my heart rate increases again so fast that I'm sure if you had looked at my chest you would have seen my shirt moving.

Then I heard the snap of the hand cuffs and saw that they finally cuffed the guy and had him back up on his feet again. Still the knife is laying on the floor. Three people hauled him off to the back of the store.

I found it interesting that with all that going on, people continued to shop as if nothing was going on. Cashiers continue to ring up purchases as if nothing was happening. And the people standing in line waiting to make their purchases continued to stand in line as if everything was normal. Course then again, maybe they were all like me. There hearts beating so fast they thought a coronary was just around the corner, paralyzed by fear, eyes popping out like a cartoon character after and 'ahhhoooga' sound. I guess I should stop before word gets out what a chicken I am...(LOL)

I never saw any merchandise that this person was being accused of shoplifting. There was a rather large display that was beyond the 'point of purchase' and I'm not sure what the rules are to look at or obtain those products for purchase. I have to wonder though that if they guy with the brace really didn't do anything wrong then why the struggle?

I can't say that any of our visits to the Steve and Barry's in Orlando has been quite that exciting. I'm sure we'll visit the store again, however I hope the next time we go it will be a little less exciting.