[CrimsonTide4]

Fla. Wal-Mart Axes Manager Over Bias Issue
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer Tue Dec 13, 3:40 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla. - A Wal-Mart manager who called sheriff's deputies about a black businessman mistakenly suspected of trying to pass a bad check was fired for using "poor judgment," the store chain said Tuesday.

Wal-Mart said manager Mark Cornett violated company procedures when he called the law on Reginald Pitts, who had presented a $13,600 check to pay for holiday gift cards for his company's employees.

Pitts, 34, a human resources manager for GAF Materials Corp., said he suspects he was treated that way because he is black.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark said Cornett tried to verify Pitts' check, but could not do so because a privacy block on GAF's account. However, she said Cornett should have returned the check to Pitts instead of calling sheriff's deputies.

Cornett was fired because of "poor judgment and poor customer service," she said.

Clark denied there was any racial profiling.

Wal-Mart apologized to Pitts for the Nov. 23 incident in suburban Brandon. But GAF decided to buy its employees gift cards from Target instead.