Andronicos, the police state and abuse of the mental health system

So, I went into Andronicos( this giant grocery store chain in Berkeley) to buy some breakfastey off of my ebt card last morning, and midway through looking around the store, I decided that I wasn't hungry and started to walk out of the door. As I was walking off, someone says 'sir' and taps me on my big backpack. I turn around and it is one of the employees who says to me; ' a customer saw you put something in your pocket.' I did not shoplift and responded by saying that is not true and that we can watch the video to prove what I was saying. After telling me we could not watch the video, the employee told me again that a customer saw me put something in my pocket and to take it out. Of course I had nothing in my pocket and could not do so, and just decided to walk out of the supermarket. But after taking a few steps out of the door, I realized what was happening, and that the story about a customer saying I stole something was bullshit and the real reason was that I was being profiled because I look homeless with my big bag, and that I looked suspicious walking out without buying something.I didn't like that, so I turned around and walked back into Andronicos and started to express myself. After stating that I was angry about being falsely accused and profiled, I said I wanted to make a complaint with the store. I was told I had to wait for the manager to get to work which would be in an hour or so. So I said fine, left and returned later to talk to the manager. When I met him, he did not shake my hand and I began again to get angry and said I wanted to file complaint. He first said ok and started to make his way to his office to get the form, but halfway there, he turned around and told me I had to now leave the store. I said not until I can file a complaint, but he refused and insisted that I leave the store. I said no and began yelling in the store that I was wrongly being accused of stealing because I look homeless. Many people where shocked, but kept shopping. After refusing to leave the store for about 15 minutes, the police eventually showed up after being called by store manager. They first asked me what was going on, and I told them that I was wrongly accused of shoplifting and I want to make a complaint. They said I had to go outside and naturally I said no, not until I make the complaint. The cops then grabbed my arms and put them behind my back to cuff me, and then dragged me out of the store while I screamed that: " I only wanted to make a complaint.'

The police took me outside and started to search me and ask me questions which I did not answer; like what was my name. After a while the police became frustrated because they knew I had done nothing wrong and could not take me to jail, and also because I was telling everyone who was walking into the store and past me, what had happened and why I was in cuffs. The cops then came up to me and said: ' you been to John George mental hospital before, because that is where we are taking you. Your on a 5150 psychiatric hold.' I couldn't believe it and started to screaming and telling more people that were going into the store that the cops were taking me to a mental hospital because I tried to file a complaint for wrongly being accused of shoplifting by the Andronico employee. People were shocked and the cop was starting to get nervous. He put me in the car in an attempt to get me to shut up(I kept yelling), and then he later told that I was going to John George and not being let go, for that reason alone, that I was trying to tell other customers of Andronicos what was happening to me. After waiting in the back of the patrol car while I was cuffed, the ambulance showed up to take me to the hospital. I was transferred out of the patrol car and strapped down the gurney in restraints while I kicked and screamed, right in the Andronicos parking lot. I was put in the ambulance and then driven off to Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley, where I was met by the staff. Eventually, I was discharged and not transfered to John George after talking to the doctors and telingl them that I am not crazy, or a danger or threat to myself or anyone, and that I won't retaliate against Andronicos or the police, or both.

So that was my crazy fucked up day of having my rights trampled on in Berkeley. I think that I am going to try to find a lawyer now, and keep fighting for justice. I know there is alot of wrong going on in the world and I am not the only one who has been profiled and accused or who has been unjustly jailed or detained when they have tried to stand up. So maybe if I do try to do that and stand up, other homeless people might come forward who might of been harrassed by the Andronico employees, or who have been abused by the police and sent to the mental hospital on 5150 for no good reason other than that the cops couldn't take the person to jail. I hope so, because these wrongs will never be corrected until we all come together and say it is wrong to treat people like this. That is the only way to change things, to come together to face the injustices and oppression that keeps us down. Well, I don't want to be treated like this and I am sure alot of people feel the same way. Things will change, I can sense it.