family dollar

Security Guard Killed in Dispute Over Face Mask Policy in Michigan

Calvin Munerlyn, a guard at a Family Dollar store in Flint, was killed after telling two customers to leave the store for refusing to follow a governor’s order to wear face coverings in public.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • May 06, 2020

A security guard in Flint, Michigan was killed in a dispute on Friday, May 1 after trying to enforce a face covering policy at a Family Dollar store, a county prosecutor said on Monday.

Calvin Munerlyn was shot and killed during an altercation with a woman, Sharmel Teague, who was told to leave the store because her daughter was not wearing a mask, NBC News reported. Three people are charged with first-degree premeditated murder and other firearms charges: Sharmel Teague, her husband Larry Teague, and her son Ramonyea Bishop.

After being told of the governor’s executive order requiring a face covering to stop spread of the coronavirus, Teague’s daughter left the store. But Teague stayed to argue with Munerlyn, who told her to leave and instructed a cashier not to serve her. She allegedly spit on him before leaving and returning with her husband and son, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.

An argument began, with Larrry Teague accusing Munerlyn of disrespecting his wife, and Bishop then shot Munerlyn in the head, Leyton said.

“From all indications, Mr. Munerlyn was simply doing his job in upholding the Governor’s Executive Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of store employees and customers,” Leyton wrote in a statement.

Sharmel Teague was arraigned on charges on Tuesday, while her son and husband were still not in police custody as of Tuesday night. No information has been released about Teague’s daughter, who has not been charged. Parts of the crime were caught on security camera footage, which will surely be used as evidence in the case.

As the demand for security guards grows due to landlords wanting protection for closed buildings or to enforce policies like the face mask order, the killing in Michigan is concerning for many members of the security industry. Brian Carr, co-owner of Michigan Security, told ABC 12 News that private security guards can ask customers to leave if they are not following the mask measures.

“For the most part we just advise,” Carr told the news station. “There’s nothing that we can do to really enforce it. If somebody were an imminent threat or posting symptomatic, we would call our local sheriff’s department and have that person dealt with.”

A candlelight vigil for Munerlyn, a father of eight, was held on Sunday night. Bernadett Munerlyn, Calvin’s mother, told MLive.com that she wants justice for her son, who was killed over something that “wasn’t that serious.”

“All you people just have to do is listen to the law, listen to the governor,” she said. “Just stay home. If you don’t have to come out, then you wouldn’t need a mask unless you’re out getting groceries or necessities. All my baby was doing was his job working and doing his job.”

Leyton echoed that sentiment in his statement: “It’s important that the Governor’s order be respected and adhered to and for someone to lose their life over it is beyond comprehension.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.