Latest news with #CherylJackson
CBS News
16 hours ago
- CBS News
North Texas nonprofit founder suing Dillard's Fairview location following video showdown over false shoplifting allegations
Dr. Cheryl Jackson, the founder of Minnie's Food Pantry, is taking Dillard's to court over an alleged incident that happened days before the remembrance of her mother's death. A 10-page lawsuit accuses the Fairview location of Dillard's of racially profiling and defaming Jackson's character on May 5. Following the incident, she spoke exclusively with CBS News Texas. "My mother would say, 'Cheryl, your name is all you have, and you protect that with everything within you,'" Jackson said. "And she said, 'You've got my name on the top of that food pantry. You protect my name.' And I said, 'I will.' And I fought for that." Video shows North Texas nonprofit founder being falsely accused of shoplifting According to Jackson, she went to the department store two days before the anniversary of her mother's death. Jackson said she planned to exchange some items and look for her annual memorial butterflies. Dillard's, where she said she usually finds a choice, did not have anything she liked. Jackson stated in the lawsuit and on CBS News Texas that an officer working at the store and a store employee stopped her before she could leave. They accused her of shoplifting; she said. Jackson started recording video on her cellphone. By the time the 13-minute-plus video ended, the store employee and a woman who presented herself as management in the recording started apologizing to Jackson. What someone thought were butterfly earrings in her pocket turned out to be her car keys. Nonprofit founder hires attorney Jackson hired Dallas attorney Daryl Washington because she said the incident was humiliating and might tarnish her image, as customers thought she was a thief. "This is not Black vs. white. This is right vs. wrong," said Washington. According to Washington, they are seeking over $10 million for the alleged mistake. At the time of CBS News Texas' initial story, Dillard's said the following in a statement: "We have apologized to Dr. Jackson. We are looking into this matter internally and will take any appropriate action." They did not answer an inquiry about the level of shoplifting at that location. The lawsuit provided CBS News Texas with another opportunity to contact the department store franchise for a comment on the allegations. We will update this story with their response.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Black Texas Doctor is Accused of Shoplifting, But What Really Happened is Caught in Spicy Video Footage
A department store chain has issued a formal apology to a Black North Texas woman after her annual shopping trip took an infuriating turn. But now, she says her reputation is at risk. It all started when Dr. Cheryl Jackson planned a trip to a local Dillard's to honor her late mother. 'I went to Dillard's because every year on the anniversary of my mother's death, I would buy butterflies [earrings],' Jackson told CBS News. 'Because when she passed, butterflies circled me.' This year was no different. Jackson walked into the department store, planning to exchange some items and pick out butterfly earrings she liked. This time, however, she couldn't find any earrings she liked, so she turned to leave the establishment. That's when things escalated. 'When I got ready to walk out the door, an African-American police officer slid in front of me and he said, 'Give them to me,'' Jackson recalled. The security officer repeatedly insisted Jackson cough up the earrings she allegedly stole, but Jackson— obviously confused by the accusation— stood her ground. The 56-year-old is the well-known founder of Minnie's Food Pantry, a non profit organization providing over 16 million meals to children and families in need, according to its FaceBook page. Jackson named her organization after her mother, Dr. Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing. 'My mother would say, Cheryl, your name is all you have, and you protect that with everything within you,' Jackson said. 'And she said, 'You've got my name on the top of that food pantry. You protect my name.' And I said, 'I will.' And I fought for that.' After being accused of shoplifting by security, an unidentified employee approached her, demanding she put back what she stole. That's when Jackson began filming the rest of the interaction. The 13-minute video posted to YouTube shows the exchange between Jackson, the security guard and two Dillard's employees. 'Do you have anything in your pocket that you didn't pay for it,' the male employee asked Jackson before telling her, 'Our camera said that you had earrings in your pocket, which you didn't pay for it.'' Eventually the second employee, a woman, came by to reveal the news that Jackson already knew to be true. 'There was a mistake, and we're so sorry,' she told Jackson before explaining the 'missing' earrings had been found. 'They located the merchandise that I put back there because I decided not to buy it,' Jackson told the employee. 'And what's in my dang pocket ain't nothing but my keys.' An emotional Jackson went on to explain how being accused of stealing could impact her business, especially since the incident happened just two days before her mother's death anniversary. She was eventually let out of the Dillard's and the company issued a formal apology. In a statement to CBS, Dillard's wrote, 'We have apologized to Dr. Jackson. We are looking into this matter internally and will take any appropriate action.' Jackson has since obtained an attorney to help protect her reputation, not to sue the company. 'And if Dillard's is serious, and they are truly sorry about what happened to Dr. Jackson, we want the individuals who falsely accused Dr. Jackson to be terminated,' Dallas attorney Daryl Washington said. 'We don't want an apology. We want them to be terminated, because they have no business in retail.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- CBS News
Video shows North Texas nonprofit founder being falsely accused of shoplifting. "My heart just sank"
A noted North Texas nonprofit leader is now concerned about her reputation after being falsely accused during an incident at a clothing store in Fairview. Dr. Cheryl Jackson, the founder of Minnie's Food Pantry, told CBS Texas that a shopping trip to honor her deceased mother got ruined with a shoplifting allegation at Dillard's on May 5. Tradition turns sour "My mother would say, Cheryl, your name is all you have, and you protect that with everything within you," Jackson said. "And she said, you've got my name on the top of that food pantry. You protect my name. And I said, I will. And I fought for that." Among her many successful ventures, Jackson is most known for Minnie's Food Pantry. It honors her mother, Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing. The pantry, which provides food to people in three states, including Texas, opened in 2008. Hawthorne-Ewing died 10 years ago. Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing died 10 years ago. Her daughter, Jackson, founded Minnie's pantry in her honor. Dr. Cheryl Jackson "I went to Dillard's because every year on the anniversary of my mother's death, I would buy butterflies (earrings)," Jackson said. "Because when she passed, butterflies circled me." According to Jackson, she went to the department store two days before the anniversary of her mother's death. She said she planned to exchange some items and look for her memorial butterflies. However, Dillard's, generally her premium choice for the items, did not have anything she liked. "And when I got ready to walk out the door, an African-American police officer slid in front of me and he said, 'Give them to me,'" said Jackson. Jackson said an officer who works for the store and a Dillard's employee asked her to hand over three pairs of earrings she had been carrying. The nonprofit leader said she was shocked by the allegation and the certainty of those making the demands. Jackson records the incident Out of fear, the 56-year-old said she went live on social media after she couldn't reach her children. She posted the 13-minute and nine-second confrontation. Male employee: "Do you have anything in your pocket that you didn't pay for it? Jackson: "Why are you asking me that question?" Male employee: "Well, because our camera said that you had earrings in your pocket, which you didn't pay for it." Jackson: "Your camera said that to you?" Two Dillard's employees confronted Jackson over shoplifting merchandise. Dr. Cheryl Jackson "They would not let me leave. The police officer said to me, either they can detain you, and they can restrain you… issue a restraining order so you can never come back on this property again," Jackson said. "They could press charges against you. And my heart just sank, and I'm looking around at everybody looking at me. And in my mind, I'm literally thinking some of these people could even be donating to my nonprofit." Then, a short moment later, a female employee walked up to deliver the news, which Jackson said she already knew. Jackson: "Where's the mistake? Tell me the mistake." Female employee: "It would be that both merchandise was located." Jackson: "Oh, they located the merchandise that I put back there because I decided not to buy it? And what's in my dang pocket ain't nothing but my keys. But they appear telling me that the camera, the camera, y'all, the camera said that I'm stealing." In a statement to CBS Texas, Dillard's said, "We have apologized to Dr. Jackson. We are looking into this matter internally and will take any appropriate action." Jackson secured a Dallas attorney, Daryl Washington, to help protect her reputation and not to sue. "This is not Black vs. white. This is right vs. wrong," said Washington. The attorney said no one from the store had followed up with his client to apologize. In the video, the employees offered apologies. The male employee who accused Jackson wanted to shake her hand, but the female employee sent him away. She told Jackson she would speak with the camera operators about getting more training. "And if Dillard's is serious, and they are truly sorry about what happened to Dr. Jackson, we want the individuals who falsely accused Dr. Jackson to be terminated," Washington said. "We don't want an apology. We want them to be terminated, because they have no business in retail."
