A Toronto police officer who purchased a shirt and tie for an alleged shoplifter after learning the young man needed the clothing items for an upcoming job interview said Tuesday that he wanted to show kindness to someone who had fallen on hard times.
Const. Niran Jeyanesan said he wasn含羞草研究社檛 rewarding the behaviour of a hardened criminal when he made the purchase, but rather using his discretion as an officer in deciding that this case merited credit card charges rather than criminal ones.
含羞草研究社淗e was very remorseful, very ashamed,含羞草研究社� Jeyanesan said of the teen. 含羞草研究社満卟菅芯可绂 I could see that this is truly a mistake and this person wanted a chance at life.含羞草研究社�
Jeyanesan said the case unfolded on Sunday night when he and his partner were called to a Walmart in the city含羞草研究社檚 north end in response to a report of shoplifting.
Such calls are routine, but Jeyanesan said the details of this incident quickly caught his attention.
The would-be thief had attempted to steal a long-sleeved shirt, a tie and a pair of socks, he said, adding such items are not common targets for shoplifters.
Jeyanesan said the unusual merchandise prompted him to try and dig deeper and find out the reasons behind the teen含羞草研究社檚 actions.
The story he heard was of a young man in a time of crisis, he said.
His family had recently lost their home after his father 含羞草研究社� the principle bread-winner 含羞草研究社� fell seriously ill, he said, adding the 18-year-old felt mounting pressure to fill the financial void and help provide for his parents and younger siblings.
Jeyanesan said the teen had secured a job interview for a 含羞草研究社渟ervice industry position,含羞草研究社� but did not have professional-looking clothes to wear.
As the interview date approached, he resorted to shoplifting out of desperation and a lack of awareness of other options available to him.
含羞草研究社淲e try to get everybody含羞草研究社檚 story when we attend calls. Everyone has their own battles that they含羞草研究社檙e fighting,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t doesn含羞草研究社檛 excuse them, but behind every action there含羞草研究社檚 a reason why this person is doing it.含羞草研究社�
Before police transported the teen back to the station for some additional questioning, Jeyanesan decided he would acquire some suitable clothes for the teen.
He went back into the store to try and select something himself, but didn含羞草研究社檛 know the teen含羞草研究社檚 size. He eventually asked the manager to hand over the original shirt and tie, which he purchased for about $40. He opted not to acquire the socks.
Jeyanesan did not present the clothes to the teen himself, but rather left them with the other belongings he had surrendered when entering the police station.
The teen found his interview outfit waiting for him when he recovered his possessions and walked out of the police station without any charges.
Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash praised Jeyanesan含羞草研究社檚 compassionate approach to the situation, calling it an intelligent use of his officer含羞草研究社檚 discretion.
含羞草研究社淗e understood the importance of what happened, that this could easily be seen as a crossroads in this young man含羞草研究社檚 life, and took the very commendable decision to assist in the way he did,含羞草研究社� Pugash said.
Jeyanesan said he has not been in touch with the teen since Sunday. Not even to find out the results of the job interview, which was set to take place on Tuesday.
Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press
