A Chattanooga Police officer who was off duty and shopping with his wife on Sunday came to the aid of a Wal-Mart greeter and had to physically place a man under arrest who was trying to leave the premises without paying for $2,000 worth of merchandise.
Around 7:30 p.m., Officer Josh Wright had been shopping at the Wal-Mart on Gunbarrel Road and was exiting the store when he observed Joseph Anthony Hill attempting to force his way pass the Wal-Mart greeter with a shopping cart loaded with TVs and a computer.
When Wal-Mart loss prevention personnel attempted to stop Hill he forced his way past them and refused to produce his receipt.
At this point Officer Wright stepped in and identified himself as a Chattanooga Police officer. He displayed his badge, and Hill looked at it and said it was fake. He then attempted to get by Officer Wright.
Officer Wright then took Hill to the floor and placed him under arrest.
Within minutes of Officer Wright making the arrest of Hill, his wife, Lisa Hill, began acting as if she was having a heart attack and stated she
did not know Hill.
A witness at the Wal-Mart told Officer Wright that Lisa Hill was lying and that she had observed both the Hills in the store together.
The witness then began leaving the scene when Lisa Hill became belligerent and began calling her a liar. She began threatening her, then she followed the witness to the parking lot. She grabbed her by her hair, threw her to the ground and started hitting her. The witness got a pocket knife from her purse and
stabbed Ms. Hill in the arm in order to get her off her.
Ms. Hill was transported for minor injuries to a local hospital where she was treated and released.
The witness who stabbed Ms. Hill did not want to prosecute, though the surveillance video from Wal-Mart confirmed the witness statements.
Joseph Anthony Hill was charged with theft over $1,000 and assault on a police officer.
At this time no charges have been filed on Lisa Hill. This part of the investigation is still open and charges are pending.