Is this a case of false arrest/imprisnoment?

[torin7]

I am hoping that you would be able to giving me your professional advice on the possibility of pursuing a case and taking it to court to obtain financial compensation for being falsely arrested/false imprisonment. This whole ordeal started with a local coffee.I was taking the streetcar home when I needed to use a washroom. Being that this particular coffee shop was directly across the street from where I was waiting for the street car I decided it would be a good place to go. When I had entered the shop I had asked the lady behind the counter if it would be ok to use the washroom. She told me that it was fine and that it was located downstairs. When I returned back to the main floor a man who was sitting at a front table seem very angry and told me that the washrooms were for customers only and that I needed to buy something . I didn’t see the sign once I had entered but later found out that it was posted on the outside door. Because I didn’t want to anger the man any further I told him that I would buy a banana which was sitting on the counter of the coffee bar. He then told me that it was two dollars. Because I couldn’t justify spending two dollars on what seemed to me to be a 25 cent banana I told him that I was not going to buy the banana. This seems to of set off the man who I later found out was the owner of the shop and he stormed to the front entrance and locked the door. He then told me he is not letting me leave until I pay two dollars for the banana. I told him that I want to leave and that’s when he called for another employee to sit in front of the door and make sure that I paid for the banana before I leave. At this point the shop was empty and it was the owner, employee, and I. I began to feel scared so I called 911 and requested police assistance. Approximately 10 minutes later the police was on-site and an officer requested to see our identification. The officer stated that I had done nothing wrong as said that I am free to go. When I was waiting for the police to arrive I had suffered a panic attack which is a result from my mental illness which I’ve had since I was 17. I strongly feel that this occurrence should have never happened and I do feel I should be compensated for my time and distress. I suffer from depression and this was a frightening experience. I have rights as citizens and I do feel violated. What can I doÉ

[webb]

False arrest???? False imprisonment???

The cop said you did nothing and that you were free to go. You were never arrested and you were never imprisoned. The cops and the courts are the only ones who could do that to you and they didn't.

And by the way, you will not get a professional opinion around here since nobody is a professional.

[gwen]

He was upset you violated his policy by using the rest room and not buying anything Water has gotten expensive as well as toilet paper!. Instead next time look at the menu for a cheaper item or stop at a public rest stop( that requires no purchase). Many shop owners will get nasty about this policy in my city- he was over the TOP but not much you can really do except what you did.

[arber47]

It sounds like a case of false imprisonment. You may be able to sue in small claims court. I doubt that you will receive a lot of money though.

[armin]

Sounds to me like you are trying really hard to be a victim. Since you had the presence of mind to call 911 for assistance and were obviously "medically stable" when the Police arrived and told you that you were free to go, your "panic attack" seems irrelevant as would be you history of depression. When the Police arrived would have been the time to tell the officer that you wanted to press charges against the owner for false imprisonment. At this point, after the fact, the Police would likely advise you to seek legal advice pursuant to a civil remedy. Normally in a civil case, you need to prove a loss and be able to quantify money damages. Civil courts can and do impose punitive awards but realize that you are the one with the burden of proof and the litigation process is likely to be long and expensive.

[weiford]

the panic attack is your problem, not his. get checked for diabetes. keep your blood sugar under control.