Are Vons security guards allowed to handcuff and physically harass me?

i stole a $1.30 soda from vons and once outside was told if i come back and pay that would be fine. i agreed but later found this to be a lie. the security gaurd was outrageous, he took hold of my shirt and would not let go even though i said i would come with him to the store (and did) he simply would not stop pulling/pushing/grabbing, etc me. i became aggravated and told him to stop repeatedly but he would not. eventually i was taken to the ground by one more security gaurd and handcuffed. they pulled on the handcuffs so much that the cuffs actually cut my skin. then i had to sign papers and they said they would send me a fine in the mail which i have never recieved, its been over two months since the incident. anyway i was wondering, is vons security and management allowed to lie and physically harass me so much for a $1.35ish soda? it all seemed a bit much to me and unsettled me a bit. i know i stole but im not sure if the physicality of it all was so necessary?

So you stole something and are now complaining because you were treated as a criminal.

Do you know why they were treating you as a criminal?

Because you are a thief!

You are a "THIEF"...not to be trusted by anyone...
That is what they do to criminals...
Taking someone elses property is "STEALING"
no matter how low the cost of the item...

Yes they can hand cuff you...and hold you
until Police arrive...
and they hope that you make lots of noise...
So others can see and hear what happens to
"Thieves" caught in their store...
It is a great deterrent and keeps other's
from doing the same Crime You Did...

Don't know a VON's store, so am guessing
you are not from my neck of the woods...
When they opened a Giant Mall here...
The "Shop Lifters" swarmed the place...

When caught and went in front of Our Local Judge...
they were actually stunned when he
sent them to Jail...still does...
I shake his Hand everytime I see him outside
of the Courthouse...

So you ruined your life over a Soda...
Sure hope it was worth it !!!!

Private security is allowed to detain (using handcuffs if needed) a suspect. They may use the amount of force needed to accomplish this. From your account you were uncooperative and argumentative.

Stealing is a crime. It's not a joke and it's not a prank. They have the right to protect what's theres until you purchase it.

Thanks for jacking the prices up for all the honest people out there.

Some Kids stole Liquor from my store and I chased them and One of their shoes fell off and I took it and Kept it!! Don't steal. I really don't know about the Harassing by this guy, but we don't show mercy at my store. just pay for you sh*t, thats all.

Two sides to every story. You may be telling it like it is. So you may have a case if they used too much force and you were being cooperative. But you said you got aggrivated.

Talk to a lawyer who will take the case on contingency. Maybe the threat of a lawsuit and publicity will cahnge how the treat you.

Good luck