The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has voided the Feb. 27 trespass warning against ex-Palm Coast City Council member Victor Barbosa after receiving a request to do so from a Walmart employee.
The Sheriff’s Office issued the warning after an asset protection employee at the Palm Coast store reported that Barbosa had “skip-scanned” an item at the self-checkout scanning machines, doing so twice at two different machines, though he’d paid for numerous other items.
Reports of the Barbosa incident led to an onslaught of criticism against him, but also a significant amount of criticism about Walmart’s scanners–and scanners in general, which are not infallible–and the perceived zealousness of its asset protection employees. Barbosa himself said that he was in a hurry and had missed scanning the $16 item by mistake. He said he then complained to the company’s corporate office, said he was issued an apology, and told that his ban from the store would be revoked.
The Sheriff’s Office in a release today said the Palm Coast Walmart contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday “and officially requested the Trespass Warning issued to Former Palm Coast City Councilmember Victor Barbosa be voided.” A deputy went to the store to handle the request by Walmart Protection Operations Coach Anthony DePasquale. DePasquale wrote on a sheriff’s form that he himself had “received a request to void the TPW For Victor Barbosa.” A printed note by DePasquale appended to the sheriff’s form states that on March 2, “Walmart Market team has approved the request to void the TPW for Victor Barbosa Walmart store 1182.”
Barbosa meanwhile resigned from the City Council, stating in a brief resignation note addressed “To Whom It May Concern” on March 1, a few hours before that evening’s City Council meeting, that his life had been threatened. A Flagler County Sheriff’s spokesman said that evening that to his knowledge the agency had received no reports pertaining to such threats. “There is nothing with his name in any way between the 27th and right now,” other than the documentation about the revocation of the warning, another spokesman confirmed this morning just before 11 a.m.
Barbosa in his resignation note said he was dropping out of his re-election bid for the District 2 seat (the primary election is in August). “All I want is my peace back,” he wrote. The council is in the process of appointing a replacement until November.
erobot says
Quelle surprise! Do I see law suits on the horizon and not only for Walmarts, but the gleefully drooling media.
L. Stryker says
As I said before, not what you did but who you know. Now, due to this Walmart needs to non- trespass many others, who did not have the recognition.
Mark says
WOW, a two day suspension from shopping. My guess is you and I would have a lot longer until being let back in, if ever.
Steve says
All Walmart wants is their clothes back. No sympathy on my part. BUH BYE Go find something else to screw up
Mary Koonce says
Absolutely bulshit
Walmart Hater says
I once abandoned my entire cart in front of a self scanner at that walmar, the scale wouldn’t register an item I was buyin, no workers in sight. Was only 2 employees checking out people and the line was crazy long for self checkout. I Never shop there if I can avoid it, I hate Amazon 2 but beats negotiating that parking lot and then what they put ME to work checking out my own items? I kick myself every time I have to go there that I didn’t just order what was needed on Amazon day before…
Bob J says
Coward, blocked all but his followers on FB
Deborah Coffey says
Yes. His life was threatened but the Sheriff has no indication of that? So, now, he’s a liar and a thief and, according to the Feds…maybe worse.
FlaglerLive says
When an individual is no longer a public official, the individual may choose any level of privacy he or she wants on social media accounts.
Denali says
Oh so many questions – – – Did he intentionally do it or not? Was it an accident? Was the computer lacking a price for that item? Is Walmart out to get him? Is he just a careless person who cannot use a scanner?
And of course the biggest questions of all; Why did Walmart ask to have the order lifted? Was there new evidence? Did he make restitution with a promise to never do it again? Was some kind of pressure brought to bear on the Walmart staff?
Again, so many questions – but in the long run the people of Palm Coast have been served by his resignation. At least we will not have to endure his continued boorish behavior.
T says
Guess who won’t go to Wal-Mart no more they pos then lift all people that stole or that be bias a ban is a ban
Petty says
Can Wal Mart trespass people who wear pajamas and yoga pants over the size 8 in their stores ?
Deb says
And if he decided to run again, he would be elected. Gee, with the proposed raise, he could actually afford to pay for that article of clothing.
Palm Coast is turning into a three ring circus. No wonder outsiders laugh at us.
JOSEPH HEMPFLING says
SOUNDS LIKE A MISCOMMUNICATION OR MISUNDERSTANDING FROM THE START AND CORPORATE DID RIGHT
IN DROPPING THE INCIDENT. P.S.SCANNERS SUCK ! AND TRY NOT TO USE THEM AT ALL. BRING BACK REAL PEOPLE,
PREFERABLY ONES THAT CAN SMILE !
Mark1 says
White privilege
Mary Rhoads says
This is not the kind of person we want making decisions on behalf of our town. He made a very bad one at Wal Mart when he did not either: A) call for assistance when the item didn’t scan, or B) put the item aside when he couldn’t scan it. What made him think he could just add it to his cart without paying for it…is he privileged? He can sugar coat it any way he wants but it’s stealing..plain and simple.
ASF says
The last of Barbosa’s “backroom deals”, we hope?
The dude says
Why?
Shark says
Go to publix and spend twice as much
James says
I’ve been using them for years. Beats getting ripped off at publix!!!!!
Larry says
He’s got a questionable past, let’s not forget.
Sheriff’s Office asserts that Councilman Barbosa is a fugitive wanted for kidnapping and extortion, calls for FDLE investigation
The U.S. Department of Justice has also opened a case on Barbosa, according to the FCSO. Barbosa said they have the wrong man.
https://flaglerlive.com/165459/barbosa-investigation/
Willy Boy says
Not being a Walmart customer doesn’t preclude me from having to deal with the crazy drivers entering and exiting their parking lot.
Take the back way on Cypress Edge for Lowes, Carrabba’s, but still have to enter “no mans land” for Sonny’s.
T says
Right but they treat there workers right walmart does not awful
T says
Ouch bro kinda racist I know all kinds of whites kicked out of walmart he is in politics they connected and crooks not saying there isnt white privilege out there this case I dont think
Concerned Citizen says
Nice try.
But he’s not White. Maybe do a little research first.
Steve says
Then One has to ask themselves How long has the Alleged been doing this
Mondexmomma says
Sorry not buying it. If it was you or I we would not becut a break. Typical BS. A political getting away with a crime as usual. I am ticked off. Just like every other politician. Nothing EVER CHANGES.
Denise says
Just before I read about this incident, I read about a phantom item that occasionally appears on Walmart receipts. The item’s name appears to read Jacket misspelled and a SKU of many zeroes and the charge of $10. When the woman approached Walmart , they told her it is something in their system and they haven’t been able to remedy it. She she was alerting people to always check their receipts. Walmart apologized and refunded the $10 but as she wrote how many unaware people were charged this and Walmart reaped $10 from each incident. Let me add you really need to check your receipts at Winn Dixie too. Twice I was charged the full price when it had the sales price on the tag. In a hurry, I really didn’t pay attention but I scan my receipts and discovered it. Both items were huge savings but Winn Dixie refunded my money. The scans do not always record the correct price.