A former Walmart worker says the retail giant fired him for trying to help a woman from being attacked in the parking lot of a southeastern Michigan store.
Kristopher Oswald, 30, tells WXYZ-TV that the Hartland Township store managers gave him papers saying they were dismissing him for "policy violations."
Oswald says he was on break at 2:30 a.m. Sunday. He saw a man grabbing a woman and asked her if she needed help. The man began attacking him.
According to Oswald, he was able to get on top of the man, but two other men started attacking him. County sheriff's deputies arrived to halt the fight.
A spokeswoman for Bentonville, Ark. corporation said that while the management team understood Oswald's intentions, his actions violated company policy.
Walmart's reasoning on the papers states that "after a violation of company policy on his lunch break, it was determined to end his temporary assignment."
Oswald only began working for Walmart seven weeks ago and wouldn't have been considered a permanent hire until a 180-day probation period ended.
Oswald acknowledges that Walmart has policies against workplace violence to prevent employees from assaulting co-workers or tackling a shoplifter.
Yet he believes that given the circumstances - imminent danger and self-defense - he had no choice, and added, "I will always do the right thing."
When asked if he would take his job at Walmart back if it were offered to him, Oswald sighed, hesitated and then said that he wasn't sure about that.
UPDATE: After the story went viral, Walmart offered him his job back. A spokesperson said after reviewing the facts, Oswald's actions do not warrant termination.
No word if he intends to return to work.
The Hollywood Gossip