Theft Under 50?

Question

I got caught stealing at Walmart, and they brought the cops in. The cop gave me a citation for theft under 50 and was told that Wal-Mart was taking me to civil court. I am not sure what all this means. Even though I know what I did was wrong, I think I was treated wrongly by the officers. First of all, I was just sitting there talking to them when the officer asked me to stand up, and he put cuffs on me for no reason that I could see. Then he made me take them out to my car while I was still in cuffs and searched it. When I asked him to take the cuffs off, he said he couldn't. I asked him if I was under arrest, and he said yes. I was never under arrest. They never read me my rights or anything. I know I have no way of proving this, but would the fact that they treated me this way help me at all in court? I am wondering if I went to court if they might dismiss it since it is my first offense. I really don't want this on my record. Also what does it mean when they take me to civil court?

Answer 1

Well, I don't know the answers to your big questions, but to answer your question about the hand cuffs and stuff, they have to put them on. I know you know you weren't going to run or do anything, but they didn't know it.

Good luck with everything...

What were you trying to steal anyway? And how were ya caught?

Answer 2

You WERE under arrest, released at scene with a notice to appear (the ticket)

They do not have to read you your rights if they are not interrogating you.  Now the searching of the car, unless you gave permission, is another matter. Did they find anything when they searched it? If so, then a good lawyer could get that evidence tossed.  

Did they beat on you while you were cuffed?  Sounds to me like they put you in cuffs for your safety as well as theirs.  They did not want you getting any ideas about fleeing. Yeah, I know, you would never do that, but people do some crazy stuff at the spur of the moment sometimes that they regret later.

Answer 3

how about next time you don't steal

if u didn't do it in the first place none of this would have happened.